Understanding the potential for malaria vector behavioural adaptations

Across Africa and beyond, mosquitoes are observed to increasingly bite more outdoors in early evening or at dawn. However, the mechanisms driving these changes are still not clearly understood. Nicodem will investigate whether these behavioural changes are consequences of evolutionary changes occurring within vector populations in response to nets, or simply a manifestation of pre-existing phenotypic plasticity. These two possibilities have different implications for control. Poor understanding of the underlying behavioural mechanisms may lead to vector control failure in the long term.

This grant was awarded under the scheme's previous name of Training Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.