A collection of ‘Five Minutes’ and ‘Hot Topics’ interviews.
Topics:
All, Academia, Africa, Charity, Diagnosis, Drug Safety, Education, Entrepreneurship, Equality, Funding, Larvicides, Medicine, Mosquito Nets, New Technologies, Politics, Research & Development
The Mobile Malaria team have just set off on a 6,000 km journey across Africa, taking portable DNA sequencing technology with them on the road. I speak with Dr George Busby who leads the team.
Creating reference genomes for mosquitos is a challenge. But now, in a partnership between the Sanger Institute and PacBio, it can be made with just 100 nanograms of DNA.
Fatou Secka, from The Gambia, is using a 3D-printed lens adapter to analyse blood samples for malaria. She hopes to one day develop her own low-cost microscope for malaria diagnosis.
The Strategic Communications Partner Committee wants to align the global malaria community with key messaging to catalyse action. I speak with Xenya Scanlon, the committee’s manager, at the time of their Annual Meeting.
I’m joined by Dr Mark Amos to discuss the accuracy of malaria diagnostic tools. How do RDTs compare to traditional lab testing?
Ms Mordaunt tells me about the UK’s efforts to fight malaria, the Commonwealth and the level of collaboration between DFID and the Gates Foundation.
Target Malaria is a consortium of researchers using ‘gene drives’ to fight malaria. I speak with Dr Alekos Simoni, one of their researchers based at Imperial College London.
Political attitudes are vital to the success of malaria elimination efforts. Jeremy Lefroy’s responsibility is to inform other Parliamentarians about the disease.
I’m joined by Lukyn Gedge who is coordinating the Microbide Bucket Challenge in India. Her team is testing the efficacy of a new biodegradable larvicide that can kill mosquitos, releasing carbon dioxide and water into the atmosphere.
Microbide is developing a biodegradable insecticide for the control of mosquitoes. It’s currently undergoing so-called ‘bucket trials’ in India.