Recently, Athrey traveled to Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, engaging with the Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project (BIMEP) team on continuing malaria research. The primary goal of the visit was to conduct a capacity-building and training program at the state-of-the-art Baney laboratory, developed in 2019, focusing on diagnostic assays for malaria surveillance from Anopheles mosquito sampling.
Training and Collaboration at the Baney Laboratory
The Baney laboratory is exemplary in Equatorial Guinea and an excellent model for developing capacity in other similar countries. Athrey’s time there involved carrying out a comprehensive training program designed to enhance the lab’s capabilities in performing diagnostic assays critical for malaria surveillance. Working alongside the dedicated technicians at the lab was an incredibly rewarding experience, providing a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities in malaria research today.
Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Nyakarungu, the lab director, whose leadership and vision have been pivotal in managing the lab and its diverse mandates. Dr. Nyakarungu’s is an inspirational figure and role in building this capacity in Equatorial Guinea is commendable.
Fieldwork with Human Landing Catch Teams
In addition to the training sessions, Athrey’s visit included nightly excursions with human landing catch teams to sample mosquitoes in both indoor and outdoor settings. The rise in outdoor biting in Equatorial Guinea and across Africa presents a significant challenge to malaria control efforts. Our ongoing research at the Athrey lab aims to illuminate this phenomenon and develop strategies to mitigate its impact.
The mosquito samples collected during these field trips were imported back to Texas A&M University for various genomic assays. These samples are invaluable for our research, offering insights that could lead to breakthroughs in understanding mosquito behavior and malaria transmission dynamics.
Reflecting on the Experience
The opportunity to work directly with the BIMEP team and contribute to capacity building at the Baney laboratory was a tremendous experience. It underscores the global nature of public health challenges and the need for concerted efforts across borders to address them. As we continue our research back at TAMU, the experiences, and lessons learned from Bioko Island will undoubtedly influence our approach to studying malaria and vector biology. We look forward to further collaborations with the Baney laboratory and the scientific community in Equatorial Guinea.