External Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC)

The External Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC) provides expert specialist technical assessments of IVCC’s portfolio of products, including project selection, transition and termination. They provide advice to the IVCC management team during periodic reviews of the projects. 

Membership of the ESAC is through the nomination of candidates with the required expertise. The ESAC meets formally twice a year and IVCC calls on advice from ESAC members in an ad hoc capacity. During ESAC review meetings, IVCC’s partner institutions benefit from guidance and support from our world-renowned scientific experts. Our ESAC members bring years of experience and knowledge from the agrochemical industry, manufacturing and academia. 

Responsibilities 

ESACs provide advice on commercially oriented insecticide-based products, for public health use and on new product classes in vector control. They evaluate all project outputs against specific, objective criteria. The four main indicators are: 

  • Will the products be effective in reducing vector borne disease transmission and where do they fit into disease control programmes? 
  • Will the product be bought for, purchased or accepted by disease endemic countries in the developing world to help them reduce disease transmission? 
  • Is there a credible regulatory pathway for the products and do they meet regulatory safety criteria? 
  • Can the products be economically produced in a format that meets regulatory standards of quality and facilitates global access to this technology in disease endemic countries? 

ESAC Team

Dr Anne Wilson
ESAC

Anne is an epidemiologist with over 15 years’ experience working in academia, industry, NGO sectors and across different therapeutic areas, most recently vector-borne diseases including malaria and arboviral infections. She is skilled in leading the design, conduct and analysis of both intervention and observational studies to understand the risk of vector-borne diseases and develop novel vector control methods. Anne has a PhD in epidemiology from Durham University and an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Professor Charles Wondji
ESAC

Charles is a professor of vector biology and genetics at LSTM (UK) and Executive Director of the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID, Cameroon). His research aims at using genetic and genomic tools to characterise mosquito populations and help maximise their control. His research activities focus in understanding the genetic basis of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes’ vectors of malaria/arboviruses by detecting molecular resistance markers using genomic/genetic tools and designing suitable molecular assays to track resistance in field populations to assess their impact on control interventions. He is sponsor of several African Research fellows (Wellcome Trust, DELTA, NIH, FLAIR) and was awarded the 2021 Chalmers medal from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He is a member of WHO vector control committees, the external scientific advisory committee (ESAC) of IVCC, grant review committees (e.g. Wellcome Trust) and member of several research consortiums.

Chi Phan
ESAC

Chi Phan is a Chemist and has M.Sc. in Material Sciences. Her previous experience includes Head of Quality Assurance, Lab Manager, Project Manager for Vestergaard. She is a co-inventor of PermaNet® 3.0, an Insecticide Treated Net targeting insecticide resistance. She worked closely with manufacturing textile processes, quality systems and environmental aspects across the textile supply chain in Asia.

Dr Corine Ngufor
ESAC

Corine is an Associate Professor of medical entomology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK. She completed her MSc and PhD in medical entomology from LSHTM. She is also the Lead Scientist of a GLP-compliant collaborative research programme at the Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou, Ministry of Health, Benin, focused on the development of novel vector control products. Corine has led several research grants funded by the IVCC, WHO, USAID, Gates Foundation, Global Fund, UNITAID and various chemical companies that have contributed to the development of a new generation of vector control products for controlling insecticide-resistant malaria vectors and the identification of suitable methods for evaluating their efficacy. She is co-chair of the Vector Control Working Group of the RBM partnership to end malaria and a member of the Vector Control Advisory Group (VCAG) and Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG) of the World Health Organisation.

Dr Egon Weinmüeller
ESAC

Egon has a PhD in Agriculture, International Trade and Policy. He is a member of RBM VCWG. Egon retired from BASF after a career including Regional Management responsibilities for BASF Agricultural Products Division in various parts of the world and as head of the BASF Global Public Health unit in developing and bringing new products to market for IRS and ITNs.

Dr Frank Rosenfeldt
ESAC

Frank is an ESAC Member at IVCC and Formulation Expert Consultant. Frank has a PhD in Chemistry and Biochemistry and extensive experience in research and development in agro and public health business.

Dr Gaby Zollner
ESAC

Gaby is an Entomologist and Program Manager for the Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program at the US Armed Forces Pest Management Board. Her administrative experience includes technology transfer and licensing, regulatory approval and product research and development. Her prior research experience at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in USA, the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS) in Thailand and the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) in the UK focused primarily on the bionomics, behaviour and control of mosquitoes, sand flies and tsetse files. Gaby has a PhD in Biological Sciences (Entomology) from the University of Greenwich, a MSc in Applied
Entomology from the University of London and a BS in Biology from Georgetown University.

Dr James Turner
ESAC

James is Editor of The Pesticide Manual (British Crop Production Council).

James has a PhD in Organic Chemistry and 30 years’ experience in Discovery Research at Dow AgroSciences. His roles have included; Member AgChem Discovery Strategy Team, Insect Management Project Creation Group Leader, Weed Management Project Creation Group Leader, Analytical Biology Project Leader and Actives Generation and Combinatorial Chemistry Group Leader.

Dr Jane Bonds
ESAC

Jane has 20 years’ experience in vector control and crop protection specialising in spray application
technology. Jane has a PhD in Agricultural Engineering from Cranfield University, a Masters in Pest Management and
Applied Entomology from Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine and. Jane’s consultancy focuses on research, innovation and regulation within vector control and crop protection. Her current focus is in research related to characterisation and optimisation of Manned and Unmanned Aerial Spray Systems.

Dr Jennifer Armistead
ESAC

Jennifer is an Entomologist and Senior Malaria Vector Control Advisor at the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). As the Technical Lead of the Vector Monitoring and Control Team, she manages and provides technical oversight for PMI projects that support building the capacity of countries to monitor and implement malaria vector control interventions and contributes to country and global strategies for malaria mosquito control.

Jennifer has a PhD in Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and MPH from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and a MSc in Medical Entomology from the University of Florida. She has over 15 years of research and operational experience in the transmission and control of vector-borne diseases in both the US and internationally. Jennifer formally held positions at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of South Florida, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, Australia, and the Department of Health in Virginia.

Professor Joan Cordiner
ESAC

Joan is an ESAC Member at IVCC and Professor of Process Engineering and External Engagement and Deputy
Head of Department at The University of Sheffield, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Joan graduated as a Chemical Engineering Professor and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. She was a former Process Engineering Professor, former Technology Manager and former Global Risk Lead for Syngenta with 30+ year experience. This included Formulation Engineering Management, research and development for AI and Formulation Engineering, Development of computer models for physical property prediction, separations and design of formulations and polymers. Joan was formally a trustee of two international Charities and has experience in working with NGO’s in East Africa.

Professor Matthew Thomas
ESAC

Matthew has over 25 years’ experience researching a wide range of projects and problems on the ecology and control of insects and diseases. His work has encompassed a range of techniques and approaches from detailed studies in the laboratory through to large-scale field experiments in both temperate and tropical settings. In the last 15 years, Matthew’s major research focus has been the role of environmental factors (e.g. climate change and insecticide resistance) in the dynamics and distribution of vector-borne diseases. This basic science has been complemented by an ongoing research program investigating the development of novel chemical and biological tools for control of malaria mosquitoes, and pests such as bed bugs. Matthew has also contributed to over 200 publications, is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Entomological Society of America, and current Chair of the American Committee of Medical Entomology.

Dr Samwel Okello
ESAC

Samwel (Sam) has over 14 years of research experience in control of vector borne diseases. His current work involves innovation, development and improving disease vector technologies that save lives including, Long – Lasting Insecticidal Nets, Indoor Residual Sprays, Larvicides, and Spatial Repellents. In addition, Sam brings on board a wealth of experience in evaluation of vector control tools in both laboratory setting and Semi-field. He formerly worked for Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology as a research fellow.

Professor Tom Churcher
ESAC

Tom is a member of the New Innovations ESAC at IVCC and a Professor in Infectious Disease Dynamics at Imperial College London. He is an epidemiologist, entomologist and mathematical modeller working to understand the best way to kill mosquitoes and eliminate vector-borne diseases. His research focuses on malaria, using analytical tools and transmission dynamics mathematical models to try and support to those controlling the disease.

Dr Trevor Perrior
ESAC

Trevor is an ESAC Member at IVCC and a freelance consultant in both drug and insecticide R&D.

Trevor has an MA in Chemistry, a PhD in Chemistry and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. His previous experience includes; Global Head of Chemistry, Section Manager Insecticide Chemistry, Insecticide Project Leader, Head of Chemical Development Group and Head of Discovery Chemistry at Zeneca Agrochemicals and Syngenta; he was also CSO, and later CEO at Domainex.

Dr Ulrike Fillinger
ESAC

Ulrike has a a PhD in Ecology from the University of Heidelberg and completed post doctorate training in East Africa successively for Durham University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is a research leader and passionate professional in public health research who has 25 years of experience managing projects related to the control and elimination of arthropod-borne diseases, collaborating closely with national disease control programs and other government and civil society stakeholders in endemic countries. She enjoys working transdisciplinary to develop, improve and evaluate interventions that aim to control malaria and neglected tropical diseases in low-income communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. She takes a holistic approach in research to develop interventions that ultimately can be measured to improve the quality of life and well-being of families and communities.

Ulrike uses mixed-methods research approaches to investigate the ecology and behaviour of disease vectors, develop the evidence base for mosquito control tools such as larval source management, attract-and kill and push-and-pull strategies, and intersectoral approaches to develop integrated disease management strategies using community-based co-production methods.

Dr Werner Bomann
ESAC

Werner is an ESAC 1 Member with his area of expertise in Toxicology. He is also Director and Toxicology Consultant at Toxconsult LLC.

Werner has a PhD in Pathology and has vast experience in regulatory and experimental toxicology and veterinary medicine.

Registered office: Liverpool School Of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 5QA.

Registered in England and Wales
Company number: 06719882
Phone: +44 151 705 3268

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