Tracking the invasive Anopheles stephensi mosquito in Ethiopia's towns and countryside
Official title: Vector Biology of Invasive Anopheles stephensi in Rural to Urban Landscapes in Ethiopia
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11515812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at ways to detect and control the invasive Anopheles stephensi mosquito in urban and rural communities in Ethiopia to help reduce malaria risk for local residents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2017 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $64,800 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AI129326-10S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11515812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (age 21 and older) living in urban or peri‑urban areas of Ethiopia who are willing to take part in household surveys, allow mosquito trapping around their homes, or provide small blood samples for antibody testing are the ideal participants.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live in or travel to the affected Ethiopian communities, or who do not participate in household or sample collection activities, are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers will visit urban, peri‑urban, and rural neighborhoods in Ethiopia to collect and count mosquitoes and map where An. stephensi is spreading. They will study mosquito behavior and genetics to understand how the species moves and transmits malaria locally. The team will test and improve surveillance tools such as traps and antibody-based methods, and compare which approaches work best across different community settings. Results will be shared with local health authorities to guide more effective mosquito control where you live.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help public health teams detect and control An. stephensi earlier and more effectively, lowering malaria risk in affected cities and towns.
How similar studies have gone: Researchers have successfully characterized An. stephensi and used surveillance and control methods in South Asia, but applying those approaches in African urban settings is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
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University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yewhalaw, Delenasaw — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Yewhalaw, Delenasaw
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.