12Nov 24
The 21st International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria (ICTMM 2024) – one of the largest international gatherings in the field of tropical medicine – took place from September 19-23 in Kuching, Malaysia. I was delighted to be part of a symposium held as part of the congress, co-organized by the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research and Target Malaria.
Panelists and moderator of the symposium: “Innovative Biocontrol Approaches for Mosquito-borne Disease Elimination: Role and Factors of Success” at ICTMM 2024. Photograph: Dickson W. Lwetoijera
The symposium aimed to address the following question: how can we effectively harness the potential of innovative vector-control tools to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases? As some novel biocontrol approaches move toward potential field evaluations, and others have already been implemented at scale, crucial conversations have emerged around the path forward for both the research and its applications. These discussions span a range of topics, including the critical role of stakeholder engagement, the importance of partnerships, and the need for multi-disciplinary scientific collaborations to support the uptake and scale-up of new tools.
In parts of the Asia-Pacific region, where I work, we are facing a concerning surge in indigenous malaria cases, driven by factors such as climate change, outdoor-biting mosquitoes, and cross-border challenges. These growing threats make it clear that we need new, adaptable and sustainable approaches that can tackle the region’s evolving malaria landscape.
Leo Braack presenting on the role of regional leadership in supporting novel malaria control approaches at ICTMM 2024. Photograph: Dickson W. Lwetoijera
During my talk at the symposium, I focused on the role of regional leadership in supporting the development and uptake of new approaches for malaria control. Regional leadership can help identify and prioritize new research areas, not just by directing resources to high-priority research fields but also by making sure that funding is available for innovative projects that could have a transformative impact on malaria control. Policymakers play a key role here too. They can help implement forward-thinking policies that support the development and implementation of new technologies. Establishing strong regulatory frameworks and creating guidelines for new technologies ensures new tools can be implemented safely and ethically. On top of this, advocacy efforts and cross-sectoral collaborations can also help create a supportive regulatory environment and streamline approval processes. Regional leadership can encourage partnership-building among different stakeholders, which is essential if we want to successfully implement and scale up new interventions. From researchers and healthcare providers to policymakers and communities, everyone has a key role to play.
The symposium was expertly moderated by Dickson W. Lwetoijera, Ifakara Health Institute, who delivered a compelling presentation on ongoing work to build African capacity in genetic biocontrol approaches for malaria control and elimination. Next, Mohamed Drabo, Target Malaria, shared valuable insights on the importance of building trust and legitimacy with local communities affected by Target Malaria’s research on new genetic tools for malaria control. Cheong Huat Tan, Singapore National Environment Agency followed with lessons learned from the implementation of Singapore’s Project Wolbachia, an initiative which aims to bring down the population of dengue-spreading Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
The key takeaway? Collaboration is everything. Only by working together — experts, policymakers, and stakeholders — can we hope to tap into the full potential of these innovative approaches and make real progress towards eliminating vector-borne diseases.
