University of Glasgow leads major African-European partnership to launch first mosquito observatory network in Africa

University of Glasgow leads major African-European partnership to launch first mosquito observatory network in Africa

(IN BRIEF) The University of Glasgow, working alongside leading African and European research institutes, has launched VectorGrid-Africa, the first coordinated observatory network dedicated to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases across Africa. Backed by €6.1 million from the EU’s HORIZON/EDCTP programme, the initiative will begin operations in Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Madagascar. VectorGrid-Africa will establish the first open-access, large-scale dataset on mosquitoes in Africa, enabling faster detection of invasive species, tracking of genetic changes such as insecticide resistance, and improved forecasting of disease risks. The project will be managed by African institutions to ensure sustainability and will train local scientists to perform advanced entomological and genomic research. By strengthening local surveillance capacity and creating the infrastructure for long-term monitoring, the initiative directly addresses gaps highlighted by the World Health Organization and will play a critical role in combating mosquito-borne diseases in the region.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 26-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Glasgow, together with a wide network of prominent research institutions across Africa and Europe, has launched a groundbreaking project aimed at transforming how mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases are monitored across the African continent.

The initiative, named VectorGrid-Africa, will be the first integrated observatory network of its kind, creating an interconnected system for studying mosquitoes and their role in disease transmission. Supported with €6.1 million in funding from the EU’s HORIZON/EDCTP programme, the project will initially be established in five African countries—Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Madagascar—before expanding its reach in the years ahead.

At the core of the project is the creation of the first large-scale, openly accessible, and high-quality dataset dedicated to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses in Africa. This resource will be critical for identifying invasive species, detecting emerging pathogens, and tracking genetic changes such as insecticide resistance. By making these insights available, the network will significantly improve disease forecasting and strengthen vector control across regions where limited surveillance capacity has long hampered efforts to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne threats.

The programme will be operated by African institutions to ensure long-term sustainability, with local monitoring sites set up to capture data on mosquito density, species variety, host preferences, transmitted diseases, and genomic variations. This will be complemented by environmental and climatic information, including human factors such as urbanization and land use changes, all of which influence disease spread. Importantly, VectorGrid-Africa will also train African scientists to carry out advanced entomological and genomic studies within their own countries, eliminating the need for samples to be shipped abroad and strengthening in-country research capacity.

This new network responds directly to the World Health Organization’s call for surveillance as a key intervention against vector-borne diseases, a recommendation that many low-income countries have been unable to fully implement due to resource and technical barriers. VectorGrid-Africa seeks to close this gap by offering the infrastructure, data, and expertise necessary for large-scale, coordinated monitoring.

Professor Fredros Okumu, VectorGrid-Africa principal investigator and Professor of Vector Biology at the University of Glasgow, emphasised the importance of the project, saying: “Launching VectorGrid-Africa is a vital step forward in tackling the challenges of mosquito-borne disease transmission across Africa. Beyond identifying invasive species and tracking natural genetic changes, this work is central to advancing long-term strategies for vector control and understanding resistance and transmission dynamics.”

Dr Ally Olotu, Director of Science at the Ifakara Health Institute, underlined the value of the initiative for regional health systems: “The creation of VectorGrid-Africa marks a major milestone in our fight against mosquito-borne diseases in East and Southern Africa. By building capacity within our countries to generate and interpret standardised, high-quality data, we are filling a critical gap in disease surveillance. This will not only strengthen responses to current threats but also prepare us to face future challenges such as climate change and emerging pathogens, ultimately enabling us to protect public health more effectively.”

Media Contact:

email: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Glasgow