PAMVERC offers a unique opportunity for conducting comprehensive malaria vector research owing to the location of its sites across a broad range of ecological zones characteristic of Subsaharan Africa. The sites contain the spectrum of African malaria-transmitting species, namely An. gambiae s.s., An. arabiensis, and An. funestus, with differing insecticide resistance status & mechanisms, a wide range of malaria transmission intensities and vector species composition.

PAMVERC is a collaboration of public health and academic researchers committed to malaria control and elimination. We offer unbiased product evaluation & development as well as capacity to answer broader research questions on vector biology and control. The strategy of PAMVERC is to identify opportunities for collaboration in development of novel chemical control agents, repellents, and insecticides for ITN and IRS, and to offer opportunities for evaluation at laboratory, experimental hut, semi-field system (malaria spheres) and community levels. In addition we provide capacity for formative research on proof of concept of novel control tools, insecticide resistance mechanisms and mosquito behaviour. PAMVERC’s publications are testimony to the quality and range of malaria research conducted

Looking to the future

Malaria continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Vector control through application of indoor residual spraying IRS & long-lasting insecticidal nets LLIN are likely to remain the major components of control programmes in the medium term. The threat of increasing resistance, especially to pyrethroids, as control measures are taken to scale could potentially reduce the effectiveness of these measures as progress is made concurrently towards elimination.

The main emphasis of PAMVERC’s research is therefore on the development and thorough evaluation of new insecticide products, IRS formulations and LLINs for vector control. Complementing this, we conduct research on the effect of control interventions on vector populations, malaria transmission, community acceptance, and insecticide resistance development. In addition we conduct basic research on vector ecology and behaviour, and applied research on alternative control strategies such as topical and spatial repellents, combination nets, insecticide mixtures, consumer products, mosquito traps and tools for disasters and emergencies.