The malaria prevention and vector control research group investigates how Plasmodium falciparum survives and spreads by integrating parasite biology, host immunity, and vector ecology.
We study how the parasite evades the host’s innate immune defenses during transmission and early infection, aiming to identify immune vulnerabilities that can guide new vaccines and therapeutics. We also examine how P. falciparum regulates its population within the human host, focusing on mechanisms that balance parasite survival with host health and exploring the possible role of programmed cell death in adaptation to stress and drug pressure. In parallel, we investigate the behavioral ecology of malaria vectors, with particular emphasis on species-specific host-seeking behavior, and translate this knowledge into the design and testing of innovative vector control tools.
By linking immune evasion, within-host dynamics, and mosquito behavior, our work addresses malaria across its life cycle to inform strategies for effective and sustainable control.