KEMRI Launches EAVeS Project to Tackle Malaria Mosquito Resistance Using Genomic Surveillance.

The Kenya Medical Resaerch Institute (KEMRI) and partners convened the initiation meeting of the East Africa Vectors Surveillance (EAVeS) initiative from 3rd to 5th June 2025, at the Institute’s training centre. This four-year study aims at transforming the fight against malaria across the region by embedding molecular surveillance into large-scale vector control programs to combat insecticide resistance in malaria mosquitoes using genome sequencing.

The project, which is a collaboration between KEMRI, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) brought together principal investigators, co-investigators, technical staff, and PhD candidates. The Kenyan Study Site led by Dr. Damaris Matoke-Muhia and Dr. Eric Ochomo, will take place in Turkana, Marsabit, Busia and Kwale counties.

Current insecticide-based strategies, while proven to reduce malaria transmission, are jeopardized by the rise of insecticide resistant mosquito strains. Traditional bioassays and field surveillance methods often detect resistance late which is only after the control efforts have been compromised. By piloting cutting-edge genomics with field-based vector control trials, researchers hope to unravel the mechanisms of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations and, ultimately, enhance the efficacy of anti-vector interventions.

“At its core, EAVeS seek to integrate vector genomics into existing control programs so that we can detect resistance earlier and tailor interventions accordingly,” said Dr. Matoke-Muhia during the opening session. “This approach promises to accelerate our understanding of how resistance emerges and spreads, ensuring that insecticidal vector control tools remain efficacious for long.”

In addition, the study will seek to establish a scientific computing ecosystem for monitoring insecticide resistance markers, enabling real-time genomic analysis of mosquito populations. The project will also identify and track emerging resistance to both existing and novel active ingredients used in insecticides, providing critical data to guide policy and operational decisions. Furthermore, EAVeS will embed resistance panel screening into National Malaria Control Programs (NMCP) at Ministry of Health, ensuring that genomic insights are routinely applied to inform the deployment and effectiveness of insecticide-based tools.

 A key pillar of the EAVeS study is capacity building, PhD students based at KEMRI and UVRI will be trained at LSTM in collaboration with Wellcome Sanger Institute. Over the next four years, these doctoral candidates will receive hands-on training in genomics, bioinformatics, and vector ecology.

“We are excited to mentor this new generation of scientists,” remarked Dr. Ochomo. “Their work will broaden our understanding of mosquito population dynamics and provide a strong foundation for future surveillance networks.”

Technical staff from molecular biology, entomology, and data science units will also benefit from specialized workshops on sequencing protocols, data analysis pipelines, and quality control measures. By embedding these competencies within local institutions, EAVeS project seeks to establish a self-sustaining framework for continuous monitoring long after the initial funding period concludes.

Prior to the three-day meeting, the study Principal Investigator Prof. Martin Donnelly paid a courtesy call on the Ag. Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, represented by the Ag. Director Research and Development, Prof. Nelly Mugo to align on the project’s vision and shared goals.

While contributing to the discussions, Prof. Donnelly noted the expected impact of the project, “By embedding surveillance within cluster-randomised trials, we aim to quantify how insecticide resistance affects the efficacy of tools like bed nets, indoor residual sprays, and spatial emanators. This approach helps generate actionable data for national malaria control programmes ultimately, guiding them toward more effective interventions based on local resistance patterns,” he stated.

On her part, Prof. Mugo stated, “I am pleased to hear about this work by EAVeS, as an Obstetrician Gynaecologist, this project is a timely and strategic investment in the future of malaria control in our region. By entrenching molecular surveillance into routine vector control, we are not only strengthening our scientific response but also building local capacity to lead this work for years to come,” she concluded.

The delegation Present at the courtesy call from the EAVeS study team were, Dr Eric Lucas, Dr Christopher Clarkson Ms. Anastacia Hernandez-Koutoucheva, and Dr Jonathan Kayondo. While the KEMRI team included Ag. Deputy Director Centre for Biotechnology Research (CBRD) represented by Mr. Francis Kimani, CO-PI’s EAVeS Kenya Site; Dr. Damaris Matoke-Muhia and Dr. Eric Ochomo.

Stakeholders are optimistic that this integrated approach will not only curb the advancement of insecticide resistance but also set a new standard for evidence-based decision making in malaria control. By generating a regional atlas of resistance markers and combining it with operational insights, EAVeS project aims to inform policy reforms and guide procurement of insecticidal products tailored to local resistance profiles.

The EAVes Project is funded by the Gates Foundation.