WP1: |
Coordination and Project Management |
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Objectives: |
To coordinate and manage all aspects of the work and implement any necessary changes to ensure the successful completion of the project. |
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WP Leader: |
Dr Hilary Ranson |
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WP2: |
Controlling insecticide resistant populations |
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Objectives: |
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To characterise the causes and extent of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in the field sites in the work programme, and to use this information to develop new and improved tools to detect insecticide resistance in Africa |
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To evaluate new insecticides or formulations provided by industrial partners to control these insecticide resistant populations in the laboratory and field |
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WP Leader: |
Dr John Vontas |
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WP3: |
Improving insecticide delivery |
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Objectives: |
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To develop state of the art systems for recording single mosquito movement |
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To determine precise models of mosquito interaction with insecticide treated surfaces |
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To identify the physio-chemical and biological barriers to insecticide transport in vivo. |
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To develop in vitro assays and structural models to screen novel insecticide preparations |
WP Leader: |
Dr Gareth Lycett |
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WP4: |
Developing new tools to target mosquitoes outside the home |
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Objectives: |
To field test a range of interventions to specifically target malaria transmission caused by mosquitoes biting outside the home. |
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WP Leader: |
Dr Gerry Killeen |
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WP5: |
Identifying novel opportunities for integrated vector control |
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Objectives: |
To identify new opportunities for integrated approaches to vector control by running experimental hut trials to test the efficacy of combinations of interventions and/or insecticides compared to current best practice, exploring approaches to improve targeted larviciding and by observing practices utilised by householders to prevent mosquito biting |
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WP Leader: |
Dr Caroline Jones |
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WP6: |
Randomised control trial for assessing the protective efficacy of novel tools for malaria control |
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Objectives: |
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To determine whether a new tool or combinations of tools provide better protection against clinical malaria in children compared with long-lasting impregnated nets (LLINs) alone in an area with pyrethroid-resistant vectors |
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To determine the additional (marginal) cost of malaria cases averted by the new tools compared with LLINs alone |
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To determine the acceptability and utility of the new tool(s) over current best practice (LLINs) |
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WP Leader: |
Professor Steve Lindsay |
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WP7: |
New tools for monitoring heterogeneities in vector species composition and behaviour, and their potential impact on control measures |
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Objectives: |
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Develop new cost-effective tools for measuring the outdoor-biting and outdoor-resting behaviour of African malaria vectors |
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Optimize and test these tools against existing methods to identify the best methods for routine vector population surveillance |
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Evaluate the impact of urbanisation and vector control measures on behavioural and genetic heterogeneity in vector populations, and the consequences of this for the effectiveness and sustainability of specific interventions |
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WP Leader: |
Dr Alessandra della Torre |
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WP8: |
Promoting translation and ensuring sustainability of new interventions and tools |
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Objectives: |
To ensure that all the experimental tasks are explicitly focussed on the translational pathway from the research environment to implementation and demonstrated sustainable effectiveness, and that transparent and independent decision making processes are in place to make the down selection of potential projects required |
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WP Leader: |
Dr Tom McLean |
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WP9: |
Capacity strengthening and dissemination |
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Objectives: |
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To enhance skills in disciplines essential to the successful completion of the project by providing specifically tailored short-term training courses |
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To strengthen research capacities in Africa by providing long-term training and mentorship for students and postdoctoral staff |
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To promote networking through South-South and North-South exchange programmes |
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To maximise the dissemination of information generated from AvecNet |
WP Leader: |
Professor Hilary Ranson |
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WP10: |
Stakeholder analysis of acceptability issues |
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Objectives: |
To evaluate the social acceptability of the new tools and interventions developed and/or tested within AvecNet |
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WP Leader: |
Dr Bertha Simwaka |
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