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.

IVCC was privileged to play its part in the Kigali Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Summit that took place on the fringes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in June.

Governments, the private sector, and philanthropists pledged to help accelerate the global fight to beat malaria and neglected tropical diseases with commitments totalling more than $4 billion.

These $4 billion commitments come at a time when malaria is rising, driven in part by the growing threat of insecticide resistance which is inhibiting the efficacy of bet nets which, for so long have proven to be the most effective intervention tool, helping to halve malaria deaths since the turn of the century.

New insecticides for bed nets are urgently needed to support best practice insecticide resistance management which will prolong the efficacy of these lifesaving interventions.  In addition, new vector control tools are required to also address the growing threat of outdoor biting.

With the support of philanthropic and government funders and industry partners, IVCC is leading the way in helping to develop and bring to market these innovative vector control tools.

The Summit, hosted by the Rwandan Government, featured keynote speeches from HRH Prince of Wales, His Excellency President Kagame, Melinda French Gates, and World Health Organisation’s Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.