Establishing an insect disease vector functional genomics training center in Africa

The genome sequences for many insects vector of human diseases are now available and promise the development of a set of new, powerful tools that can be used to develop innovative approaches to control these diseases. The African continent, which is the most severely affected by vector borne diseases, lacks adequate infrastructures and personal resources required for rational use of genomic information. To fill this gap, the African Center for Training in Functional Genomics of Insect vectors of Human Disease (AFRO VECTGEN) was initiated by WHO/TDR and the Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Ecology (DMEVE) of the Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC) in Mali. The aim of the AFRO VECTGEN program is to train young scientists in functional genomics who will ultimately use genome sequence data for research on insect vector of human disease. The program could trigger collaborative research and will benefit from an existing vector biology network in Mali, which was built around research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, USA and WHO/TDR.