As Dr Graham Small retires after 18 years with IVCC, he reflects on a career dedicated to innovation and impact.
As I prepare to step into retirement from IVCC, I’ve found myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the past 18 years — years filled with collaboration, innovation, and purpose. It’s been an honour to have been part of the IVCC journey, first as a member of the External Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC), and later as part of the IVCC Technical Team.
My time with ESAC allowed me to contribute technical insights to several of IVCC’s groundbreaking product development projects. Among these were Actellic® 300CS (Syngenta), an indoor residual spray that remains integral to malaria control, and Interceptor® G2 (BASF), a next-generation insecticide-treated net. Thanks to the NgenIRS project (2016–2019) and the New Nets Project, both led by IVCC and funded by Unitaid and the Global Fund, in addition to other partners, these life-saving tools are now helping to protect millions across sub-Saharan Africa.
I’m also privileged to have been involved from the very beginning in what would become VECTRON™ T500, an innovative IRS product from Mitsui Chemicals Crop & Life Solutions (MCCLS). When I joined IVCC’s technical team in 2016, I took on the role of Technical Coordinator for this project, working alongside dedicated researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, CREC/LSHTM Collaboration in Benin, and PAMVERC and NIMR-Amani Research Centre in Tanzania. Together, we guided VECTRON™ T500 through GLP-compliant laboratory and semi-field trials, and community trials — even amid the immense challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the product achieved WHO prequalification in March 2023, it truly felt like a triumphant moment for everyone involved. The teamwork, perseverance, and shared commitment that brought VECTRON™ T500 to life made it one of the proudest achievements of my career.
Another highlight that stands out for me was leading IVCC’s GLP Certification Project, funded by the Gates Foundation. Launched in 2016, the project supported eight research facilities — four in West Africa, three in East Africa, and one in the UK — on their journey to achieving full GLP compliance. At the outset, some doubted whether this would even be possible in sub-Saharan Africa, given the rigorous standards required, the infrastructure challenges, and the capacity gaps we faced. But through sheer collaboration, determination, and hard work, all seven African research facilities ultimately achieved GLP certification by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).
As I look back, I’m filled with pride — not just in the scientific milestones, but in the spirit of partnership and shared commitment to saving lives that defined every step of my IVCC journey. Working with such remarkable colleagues and collaborators has been an extraordinary privilege, and I carry with me lasting memories of the impact we have made together.
