# Malaria Epidemiology and Vector Biology of Anopheles stephensi across Rural and Urban Landscapes in Ethiopia

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2024 · $932,408

## Abstract

Malaria Epidemiology and Vector Biology of Invasive
Anopheles stephensi Across Rural and Urban Landscapes in Ethiopia
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Anopheles stephensi is a major malaria vector species in South Asia. Since its first detection on the
African continent in Djibouti in 2012, the distribution of this vector species has expanded to Ethiopia,
Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, and Nigeria. The emergence and spread of An. stephensi in Africa pose
serious challenges for malaria control and elimination in fast-growing urban Africa. Knowledge gaps
related to An. stephensi ecology and behavior and the effectiveness of intervention methods in Africa
have impeded the development of effective malaria control programs. Lack of sensitive surveillance
methods for An. stephensi has also hindered efforts to effectively track An. stephensi population
spread over time. To date, only limited basic research has examined the biology of invasive An.
stephensi mosquitoes and the impact of An. stephensi invasion on malaria epidemiology in Africa.
Little translational research has been conducted to develop new surveillance and control tools for An.
stephensi. To address the major knowledge gaps and challenges in malaria control and elimination in
the face of An. stephensi invasion and rapid spread across sub-Saharan Africa, our ICEMR
established a consortium of outstanding institutions and investigators from the U.S. and Ethiopia to
study critical scientific questions regarding malaria control and elimination efforts in the Greater Horn
of Africa. The overarching goals of this ICEMR are to 1) address the knowledge gaps in
invasive An. stephensi vector biology and malaria epidemiology across the rural to urban
continuum in Ethiopia; 2) develop surveillance tools and methods needed to track vector
spread; and 3) identify cost-effective vector control methods that can be adapted to settings
of varying malaria endemicity. The ICEMR has two projects, each with multiple specific objectives.
Project 1 will assess the vector biology of An. stephensi, elucidate the extent of spread of invasive
An. stephensi, and develop serological biomarkers for An. stephensi exposure surveillance. Project 2
will examine the impact of An. stephensi invasion on malaria risk and determine the epidemiological
impact and cost-effectiveness of larviciding methods targeting areas of high malaria risk across the
rural to urban landscape. The administrative and data management cores will provide support to the
entire program. Knowledge gained through this ICEMR is important to malaria control and
elimination, not only in Ethiopia, but also in other African countries with invasive An.
stephensi.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10836855
- **Project number:** 2U19AI129326-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Guiyun Yan
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $932,408
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-04-15 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10836855

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10836855, Malaria Epidemiology and Vector Biology of Anopheles stephensi across Rural and Urban Landscapes in Ethiopia (2U19AI129326-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10836855. Licensed CC0.

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