IVCC is delighted to take part in the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Vector Control Working Group (VCWG) in Accra, Ghana, from 6^th to 8^th February.

To find out about the work of IVCC, its partnerships and its pipeline of innovative vector control solutions, visit the IVCC booth throughout the conference.

The IVCC-led New Nets Project (NNP) pilots new tools to strengthen the insecticide-treated net (ITN) market. At VCWG, there is a dedicated NNP side event where project partners* will present the results from the NNP pilot evaluations (Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Rwanda) and discuss the comparative impact and cost-effectiveness of dual-AI ITNs in various malaria-endemic settings. The event will feature a concluding panel discussion where presenters and additional NNP partners will reflect on how things have changed since the start of the NNP (e.g., net market, evidence base, WHO PQ and guidance, and modelling projections), what the legacy of the NNP will be for future ITN campaigns and data collection, and where the larger malaria and vector control communities go from here.

New Nets Project Results and Future Considerations (8^th February, 11:00 to 12:30 GMT, Ballroom 1 &2). For a full event description, agenda and list of speakers, download the detailed agenda for the side event. Lunch will be available.

There are other opportunities to hear about the NNP project and dual AI nets throughout VCWG:

Enhancing the Impact of Core Interventions, Monday 6^th February

Durability testing of the bioefficacy of dual active ingredient ITNs, durability methods, and data from dual AI ITN monitoring (presented by Corine Ngufor, CREC, and Jackline Martin, KCMU/NIMR, 14:10 to 14:40, Session 1).

Physical and insecticidal durability of dual active ingredient and PBO ITNs: Results from 24-month surveys (presented by Medard Rukaari, UMU/ NMCP Uganda, 15:15 to 15:25, Session 2).

Sub-lethal exposure to chlorfenapyr kills Plasmodium parasites in surviving insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes (presented by Pie Muller, Swiss TPH, 17:18 to 17:26, Task Team 2, Session 4)

Estimating the malaria prevention impact of dual active ingredient insecticide-treated nets: Results from the New Nets Project pilot evaluations (presented by Joe Wagman, PATH, 17:26 to 17:39, Task Team 2, Session 4).

Posters:

P014: Impact of next-generation dual-active ingredient long-lasting insecticidal net deployment in Tanzania on insecticide resistance in Anopheles funestus s.l. and Anopheles gambiae s.l. (Louisa Messenger, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA)

As well as the focus onNNP, there are other of opportunities to catch up with the work of the wider IVCC portfolio, including work on VECTRON™ T500, currently under assessment by WHO-PQT/VCP:

Oral Presentations:

Enhancing the Impact of Core Interventions, Monday 6^th February

Task Team 2: Addressing biological threats; new insecticides for vector control (for IRS and ITNs)

Non-inferiority experimental hut and community (Phase III) cluster randomized indoor residual spraying evaluation trials of Vectron™ T500 against malaria vectors in Tanzania (presented by Njelembo Mbewe, LSHTM / KCMUCo, and Patrik Tungu, NIMR, Session 4, 17:05  to 17:18)

Expanding the Vector Control Toolbox, Tuesday 7^th February

Task Team 2: Innovations in vector control and vector surveillance

Closing the Gap (presented by Jason Richardson, IVCC, Session 1, 08:05 to 08:20)

Task Team 3: Anthropology and human centred design (interface between vector control and human behaviour)

Over-spraying in IRS trials: a real or imagined problem for IRS assessment? (presented by Mark Rowland, LSHTM, 09:45 to 09:55).

Posters:

P025: Crystalline insecticides and their presentation in VC products (Svetlana Ryazanskaya, IVCC).

Find out more about 18th VCWG annual meeting online, including the full conference programme, the event’s sponsors, and exhibitors.

N.B. all times shown are given in GMT, the local time zone in Accra.

*NNP implementation partners are: The Alliance for Malaria Prevention, Imperial College London, LSTM, LSTMH, PATH, PSI and Tulane University. NNP Industry partners are: BASF and DCT (Disease Control Technologies). NNP Funding partners are: Unitaid and The Global Fund. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, along with USAID and MedAccess are supporting partners. Image credit: PSI, Mali.

Earlier this week, Malaria No More UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, brought together a panel of experts and political leaders to discuss the recently launched 2022 World Health Organisation (WHO) Malaria Report.

Andrew Mitchell (MP), Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom, opened the event, where he spoke about his advocacy for universal health coverage and the importance of vector control tools in the fight to end malaria. A panel discussion followed, with contributions from Dr Alastair Robb (contributor to the 2022 Malaria Report), Prof. Azra Ghani (Imperial College London), Serena Muki (Malaria No More Ambassador) and Catherine West MP. Key messages from the event are summarised in this twitter thread by Zero Malaria UK.

This week also, Baroness Liz Sugg addressed the UK House of Lords to highlight the findings of the 2022 WHO World Malaria Report and urged the government to stay committed to a thriving research and development pipeline. Watch the address via this link.

Image credit: Malaria No More UK.

The signing of the Vector Expedited Review Voucher (VERV) into US Law at the end of 2022 was a major step forward for vector-borne disease control.

Now, in a newly published article in Health Affairs, Prof. Jeff Moe (Duke University and IVCC consultant) and his co-authors discuss the next steps for the EPA, product developers, and Congress to make the VERV programme a success and save lives.

The VERV programme has been championed by IVCC following a policy proposal by Duke University.

Click this link to read the article.

Download the Tech Updates highlighting vector biology and control news, publications and resources.

Given the breadth of vector control-related literature, we are unable to include all relevant work. These updates are intended to focus primarily on Anopheles biology and a subset of control topics with global relevance. Any views expressed in the updates do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of IVCC. In many cases, we directly quote sections of published work. Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by IVCC or its funders.

It is with great sadness that IVCC marks the passing of Colin Ruscoe. Colin worked with IVCC from its inception in 2005, chairing the External Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC), helping direct research and development programmes to discover and deliver new chemical products and surveillance systems for the elimination of Anopheles and Aedes mosquito vectors of malaria, Zika and dengue.

Nick Hamon, recently retired CEO of IVCC said: “We have so appreciated Colin’s role in helping IVCC and its partners bring new vector control products to market.  Colin’s impact on global public health cannot be underestimated. As Chair of IVCC’s ESAC, Colin’s knowledge expertise and guidance has helped save thousands of lives. His role and impact has been positively heroic.”

IVCC would like to extend their deepest condolences to Colin’s family and friends. He will be sorely missed by many.