Who We Are
The African Gene Drive for Vector Control network is a community of individuals and organisations interested in the applications of gene drive technologies for public health. The goal of the network is to promote awareness raising, sharing of good practice, promotion of African led research and community engagement in order to ensure that both expert and non-expert stakeholders have access to information about the basic science, latest research, developments and implications of gene drive deployment as a potential tool for vector control in Africa.
We believe that by facilitating evidence based information sharing and dialogue on the potential uses and pitfalls of gene drive for public health, African stakeholders, as the main beneficiaries of this new technology, will be better equipped to make informed decisions about its value and suitability for African settings.
Why was the African Gene Drive for Vector Control created?
The African Gene Drive for Vector Control was initiated by the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA) to address the lack of inclusion of African researchers in the debate surrounding gene drive technologies. Globally, Africa carries the highest burden of malaria, and the ramifications of mosquito gene drives could prove game-changing in the fight against malaria and other vector-borne diseases. More perspectives from Africans based in malaria affected countries need to be included in the discourse on mosquito gene drives -with each other, and with external actors involved in research, policy making and programming. The creation of an African Gene Drive for Vector Control network serves to build a critical mass of collective intelligence and support African agency for ownership of gene drive research, policy development and practice in this emerging field.
The Network’s members are African researchers, regulators, governmental and non-governmental organisations, civil society and organisations working on or interested in learning more about gene drive for vector control.