Name of Project: ICEMR Entomology

Overall Principal Investigator: Dr. William Moss

Local PI: Dr. Edgar Simulundu and Dr Monicah Mburu

Local Study Coordinator: Mr. Harry Hamapumbu& Mr Japhet Matoba

This large project is now in Year five of the second 7-year grant. The overall theme of the ICEMR project is: To address critical research questions on barriers to malaria control and elimination in Southern and Central Africa, specifically understanding reasons for continued malaria in high, moderate and low transmission settings despite current public health interventions. In addition to the work at Macha, we carry out research work in Nchelenge District, Luapula in collaboration with TDRC, Ndola and in Mutasa District, Eastern Zimbabwe.

This project comprises several studies/components as detailed below.

MUSEMO-STUDY

The acronym MUSEMO stands for Magnifying the Utility of surveillance in Elimination-focused Malaria Operations  and in Chitonga translates as pillar. The goal of this project is to develop and test strategies to assist zambia Elimination program. The study will be implemented with the following two aims:

1. to measure the reduction in parasite prevalence associated with a "1-3-7" focused malaria investigation strategy in a per-elimination district.
2. Asses implementation outcome of the 1-2-7 implementation strategy

Name of Project: ICEMR Entomology

Overall Principal Investigator: Dr. Doug Norris

Local PI: Dr Monicah Mburu and Dr Edgar Simulundu

Local Study Coordinator (if applicable): LimontySimubali& Twig Mudenda

 The Entomology component of ICEMR under the ANTOOMWE cohort study involved monitoring of malaria mosquito vectors in Macha area. The monitoring helps in understanding the abundance, distribution, infectivity, biting and resting behaviors of malaria vectors. After the closure of the ANTOOMWE Cohort study 's first phase in September 2020, there was no further entomological surveillance. The team concentrated on data cleaning which has been finalized.During this reporting period, the team has also been working on study protocols and approval on new entomological studies. The first study will focus on understanding the role of understudied vectors in Macha, Mapanza and Simaubi regions. The study will employ mixed-methods of mosquito sampling to capture the biting and resting behaviors of the vectors, both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, following a successful JHU pilot grant, the team will be conducting larval studies to characterize the breeding habitats of malaria vectors in the three regions. The studies have been approved by the relevant.