About Our Institute
The Vector & Vector-Borne Diseases Research Institute was established in 1998 with a singular mission: to combat the growing threat of diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and sandflies. Located at the intersection of cutting-edge biomedical research and field epidemiology, our institute serves as a beacon of hope for communities worldwide affected by malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, Lyme disease, and numerous other vector-borne illnesses.
Over the past two and a half decades, our dedicated team of scientists, epidemiologists, entomologists, and public health experts has pioneered groundbreaking research that has shaped international disease control strategies. Our work spans from molecular biology laboratories where we decode the genetic mechanisms of pathogen transmission, to remote field stations where we study vector behavior in their natural habitats, to community health centers where we implement evidence-based intervention programs.
Our state-of-the-art molecular biology laboratory equipped with advanced genomic sequencing technology
The institute operates with an annual research budget of approximately 45 million USD, supported by grants from international health organizations, governmental agencies, private foundations, and collaborative partnerships with universities across six continents. Our 280-person team includes 85 senior researchers holding doctoral degrees in various disciplines, 120 technical staff members, 45 field workers, and 30 administrative professionals who ensure the smooth operation of our complex research programs.
We maintain active field research stations in twelve countries across Africa, Asia, and South America—regions most severely impacted by vector-borne diseases. These stations serve not only as research outposts but also as training centers where local health workers gain expertise in vector surveillance, disease diagnosis, and community-based prevention strategies. Our commitment to capacity building in endemic regions reflects our belief that sustainable disease control requires empowering local communities with knowledge and resources.
Our Research Focus Areas
Vector Biology & Ecology
Understanding the life cycles, behavior patterns, and environmental factors that influence vector populations and their capacity to transmit diseases.
Pathogen Genomics
Sequencing and analyzing the genetic material of disease-causing organisms to identify virulence factors and potential therapeutic targets.
Disease Surveillance
Developing and implementing monitoring systems to detect disease outbreaks early and track the spread of vector-borne illnesses.
Vaccine Development
Creating and testing novel vaccine candidates against malaria, dengue, and other major vector-borne diseases.
Vector Control Methods
Evaluating traditional and innovative strategies for reducing vector populations, including biological control and targeted insecticides.
Climate Change Impact
Investigating how changing environmental conditions affect vector distribution and disease transmission patterns.
Mosquito-Borne Disease Research
Our mosquito research program represents one of the most comprehensive efforts globally to understand and combat diseases transmitted by Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex species. Malaria alone causes over 600,000 deaths annually, predominantly among children under five years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. Our research team has made significant contributions to understanding artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum parasites, leading to updated treatment protocols that have saved countless lives.
Field epidemiologists conducting vector surveillance in a malaria-endemic region
The emergence of Aedes aegypti-transmitted viruses—including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever—represents an escalating public health crisis as urbanization and climate change expand the geographic range of these mosquitoes into previously unaffected regions. Our institute played a crucial role in characterizing the 2015-2016 Zika virus outbreak, providing critical data on transmission dynamics, neurological complications, and vertical transmission from mother to fetus. This research directly informed public health recommendations and accelerated vaccine development efforts.
We have developed novel mosquito monitoring systems utilizing machine learning algorithms to predict outbreak risk based on environmental variables, mosquito breeding site characteristics, and human population density. These predictive models have been adopted by health ministries in 23 countries, enabling proactive intervention before outbreaks escalate. Our team has also pioneered the use of Wolbachia bacteria as a biological control agent, infecting mosquito populations with this naturally occurring bacterium that blocks virus replication, thereby preventing disease transmission without the need for chemical insecticides.
Tick-Borne Disease Initiatives
Lyme disease has become the most common vector-borne illness in North America and Europe, with reported cases increasing by over 300 percent in the past two decades. Our tick research laboratory maintains the world's largest collection of Ixodes scapularis specimens, representing populations from diverse geographic regions and enabling comparative studies of pathogen prevalence and insecticide resistance patterns. We have identified genetic markers associated with Borrelia burgdorferi transmission efficiency, opening potential avenues for developing transmission-blocking interventions.
Beyond Lyme disease, our researchers investigate the complex ecology of tick-borne encephalitis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and emerging pathogens such as Bourbon virus and heartland virus. The institute operates specialized biosafety level 3 facilities where scientists can safely study these dangerous pathogens, characterizing their molecular biology and testing potential therapeutics. Our work has led to the identification of several drug candidates currently in preclinical development, offering hope for diseases that currently lack effective treatments.
Recent Breakthrough: Universal Malaria Vaccine Candidate
In collaboration with international partners, our researchers have developed a vaccine candidate that demonstrates efficacy against multiple Plasmodium species. Phase II clinical trials in Kenya, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso showed 78 percent protection against clinical malaria over a 12-month follow-up period. Unlike previous vaccine approaches that target a single life stage of the parasite, our multi-antigen formulation stimulates immune responses against sporozoites, liver stages, and blood stages, providing comprehensive protection. If Phase III trials confirm these results, this vaccine could represent the most significant advance in malaria prevention in decades, potentially averting millions of infections annually.
Climate Change and Emerging Diseases
Climate change fundamentally alters the distribution and abundance of disease vectors, creating new epidemiological landscapes that demand adaptive research approaches. Our climate science division combines entomological field studies with sophisticated climate modeling to project future disease risk under various warming scenarios. We have documented the northward expansion of Aedes albopictus into temperate regions previously too cold for year-round survival, raising concerns about chikungunya and dengue transmission in areas with no historical experience managing these diseases.
Mountain communities in tropical regions face particular vulnerability as rising temperatures enable mosquitoes to survive at higher elevations, bringing malaria and other diseases to populations with little immunity and limited access to health services. Our longitudinal study in the Colombian Andes has tracked this elevation shift over fifteen years, providing crucial data on the pace and health impacts of climate-driven disease emergence. This research informs adaptation strategies and resource allocation for health systems confronting novel disease threats.
Community health workers educating residents about mosquito breeding site elimination
Global Impact and Partnerships
The institute maintains formal collaborative agreements with over 150 research institutions, universities, and public health agencies worldwide. These partnerships facilitate data sharing, joint research projects, and capacity building initiatives that multiply the impact of our work. We serve as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vector-Borne Diseases, providing technical guidance on surveillance methodologies, intervention strategies, and outbreak response protocols.
Our training programs have educated more than 3,200 health professionals from 92 countries in the past decade. These intensive courses cover topics ranging from basic entomology and disease ecology to advanced molecular diagnostics and epidemiological modeling. Alumni of our programs have gone on to establish national vector-borne disease research centers, lead outbreak response teams, and shape health policy in their home countries, creating a multiplier effect that extends our influence far beyond our direct research activities.
We are particularly proud of our commitment to open science and data accessibility. All genetic sequences generated by our laboratories are immediately deposited in public databases, enabling researchers worldwide to build upon our findings. Our field surveillance data feeds into global disease monitoring systems, providing real-time information that informs international travel advisories, vaccine distribution strategies, and resource allocation decisions. We have published over 2,800 peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals, with our research cited more than 95,000 times by other scientists, demonstrating the influence and impact of our work on the broader scientific community.
The economic burden of vector-borne diseases is staggering, with annual costs exceeding 50 billion USD globally when accounting for healthcare expenditures, lost productivity, and tourism impacts. Our research demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of various intervention strategies has persuaded policymakers to invest in prevention programs that, while requiring upfront investment, ultimately save money and lives. Economic analyses conducted by our health economics team have been instrumental in securing funding for large-scale insecticide-treated bed net distribution programs that have prevented millions of malaria cases.
Looking Forward
The next decade presents both challenges and opportunities in the fight against vector-borne diseases. Insecticide resistance threatens the effectiveness of our primary vector control tools, requiring urgent development of alternative strategies. Urbanization continues to create ideal breeding habitats for mosquitoes in close proximity to dense human populations. Political instability and armed conflicts disrupt disease control programs and create conditions for outbreak emergence. Yet alongside these challenges, unprecedented scientific advances offer new possibilities for intervention.
Gene drive technology, which enables genetic modifications to spread rapidly through wild vector populations, could theoretically eliminate disease transmission in certain contexts. However, this powerful tool raises complex ecological and ethical questions that our institute is helping to address through stakeholder engagement, environmental risk assessment, and careful evaluation of potential unintended consequences. We advocate for a measured, transparent approach to gene drive research that prioritizes safety and community acceptance.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are revolutionizing disease surveillance and prediction. Our data science team is developing algorithms that integrate satellite imagery, weather data, human movement patterns, and entomological surveillance to create dynamic risk maps updated in real-time. These tools enable health systems to anticipate outbreaks and deploy resources proactively rather than reactively, potentially transforming the paradigm of epidemic response.
Ultimately, controlling vector-borne diseases requires more than scientific innovation—it demands sustained political commitment, adequate funding, community engagement, and coordination across sectors including health, environment, education, and urban planning. Our institute strives to advance not only the science of disease control but also the translation of that science into policies and programs that protect human health. We remain committed to our founding mission of creating a world where no one dies from a preventable vector-borne disease.