On June 19, 2024, members of the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) team were warmly welcomed by the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) at its Bagamoyo branch office in Kingani. The visit included the unveiling of a commemorative plaque celebrating the ‘Accelerate to Eliminate Malaria Program’, a five-year collaborative agreement funded by USAID, at the Bagamoyo facility.

The Vector Control Product Testing Unit (VCPTU), a critical research facility within IHI, is internationally recognized for its high-quality evaluations of new vector control products. The site plays a vital role in vector control product testing for industry and regulatory bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Prequalification, as well as extensive collaborations with academia.

During the visit, Dr. Ally Olotu, Director of Science at Ifakara, along with Jason Moore, Test Facility Manager, and the VCPTU team, warmly received the IVCC delegation. The event marked both advancements in infrastructure and the collaborative spirit that propels progress in vector control research. It included presentations by the IHI VCPTU team on projects supported by IVCC, alongside discussions on safeguarding standards, equity, diversity, and gender policies.

IVCC’s collaboration with IHI and VCPTU is long-standing, both on infrastructure and capacity building initiatives, in addition to research collaborations. IVCC has previously supported IHI towards GLP certification with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. By assisting institutions like IHI secure Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certification, IVCC ensures that local research facilities can meet international standards, thereby enhancing their ability to conduct critical research and testing. This support not only advances scientific capabilities but also empowers local communities to take a leading role in combating vector-borne diseases.

During the visit, Dr. Small expressed optimism about future collaborations, stating, “Driven by values of partnership, innovation, and respect, IVCC is committed to building lasting partnerships that deliver life-saving solutions. Our partnership with IHI demonstrates the significant impact we can achieve together.”

Dr. Olotu also acknowledged IVCC’s invaluable support, emphasizing the importance of the funding for IHI’s ongoing product testing activities at the Vector Control Product Testing Unit. This collaboration continues to drive forward our shared mission to eliminate malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

This visit to IHI  by the IVCC delegation was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this story are the responsibility of IVCC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

IVCC participated in the 2024 Global Health Security Conference in Sydney, from the 18^th to the 21^st of June.

The event brought together leaders, researchers, policy makers and representatives from private industry, international organisations and civil society. Discussions focused on strengthening health systems and explored ways to improve global responses to the most pressing health challenges.

IVCC was represented by Justin McBeath, CEO and Chris Larkin, Director of Operations & Communications. Together, they participated in a range of sessions, including a side event facilitated by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which brought together a range of Product Development Partnerships (e.g. IVCC, MMV, TB Alliance) to discuss areas of common challenge and opportunity with a particular focus on advancing Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GEDSI). In addition, Justin McBeath was part of a panel for a session, hosted by GARDP (The Global Antibiotics Research and Development Partnership), on ‘Improving Access to Critical Health Products’.

IVCC was also an exhibitor at the conference, giving the opportunity for delegates to learn more about the scope our projects and initiatives.

Find out more about the third Global Health Security Conference online.

IVCC participated at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Roll Back Malaria Vector Control Working Group in Kigali; which took place between 15^th and 17^th April 20204.  IVCC was an exhibitor at the conference, giving the opportunity for delegates to learn more about the scope our projects and initiatives.

IVCC CEO, Justin McBeath, unveiled IVCC’s strategy during the meeting. He also handed over the VCWG co-chair role at the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, which he’s held for two terms. We congratulate Dr El Hadji Amadou Niang on the new role.

Meanwhile, our team shared insights on ITN campaigns, private sector engagement, expanding the Vector Control Toolbox, humanitarian emergencies, and more.

You can now access the meeting presentations, photo gallery, e-poster, list of participants and more on the VCWG website, here.

We highlight presentations by:

• IVCC Senior Technical Manager, Janneke Snetselaar on Meta-analysis on the entomological effects of differentially treated ITNs in a multi-site experimental hut study in sub-Saharan Africa.
• IVCC Africa Coordinator, Andre Saibu, hosted a Panel discussion: New funding streams and local implementation capacity for IRS through Public-Private Partnership
• IVCC Consultant, Mike McDonald, also gave a presentation on Expanding the Vector Control Toolbox for Emergency Settings

We are proud to announce the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for the “Accelerate to Eliminate Malaria Program,” a five-year cooperative agreement funded by USAID and implemented by IVCC. Senior Technical Manager Graham Small and Communications Manager Laura Roberts Artal recently visited the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), a long-term research partner, to mark this significant milestone.

The first day of the visit was marked by a tour of the CSRS insectary and laboratory in Abidjan, where the IVCC delegation was introduced to the cutting-edge research being conducted at the facility. The Global Laboratory Practices (GLP) team presented their latest findings on research projects funded by IVCC. These presentations highlighted the advancements and impact of their work in the fight against malaria. The discussions also covered safeguarding standards, equity, diversity, and gender policies, and underscored the crucial role of effective communication in organizational success.

The visit continued with a two-day workshop in Tiassalé, the village where CSRS conduct non-clinical studies to evaluate vector control tools. These studies, including semi-field and small-scale field trials, are conducted to establish how effective a new vector control product is at controlling mosquitoes in endemic settings.

The workshop aimed to engage local Tiassalé authorities and community members, emphasizing the importance of the research carried out by CSRS in Tiassalé. The discussions focused on how these research activities have contributed to reducing malaria transmission rates by targeting the disease vectors.

Throughout the visit, the IVCC team had the opportunity to engage with community leaders and local stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment to further the goals of the “Accelerate to Eliminate Malaria Program.” This interaction not only highlighted the success of the research initiatives but also demonstrated the essential partnership between IVCC and CSRS in advancing malaria prevention efforts.

This visit and the unveiling of the plaque symbolize a shared commitment to innovative research and community engagement, essential components in the ongoing battle to eliminate malaria.

For more about this event visit:

• TV coverage from NCI – La Nouvelle Chaîne Ivoirienne.
• CSRS news story
• Day by day LinkedIn coverage by CSRS (Day 1, Day 2 and 3)

This visit to CSRS by the IVCC delegation and the community event at Tiassalé was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this story are the responsibility of IVCC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Photography credit: A.A.Kone, Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS)

The 8th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Society Conference was held in Kigali, Rwanda on 21–27 April 2024 under the theme “Grassroots mobilization to end malaria: invest, innovate and integrate”.

IVCC was an exhibitor at the conference, giving the opportunity for delegates to learn more about the scope our projects and initiatives.

Find out more about the 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference, hosted by The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Society, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH)- Rwanda and the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) online: https://mimafrica.rw/