Ongoing Research Support
Support for Vector Biology Training for Sustainable Control of Vector Borne Diseases in East Africa
Goal: To provides training in control of vector and vector borne diseases in East Africa.
Narrative: Research is needed to develop effective responses to vector-borne Neglected Tropical Diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. This grant allow scientists from East Africa and their Yale University collaborators, to train early career scientists in fundamental principles of vector biology and vector borne diseases and in new and emerging translational technologies for vector control. Program contains a mix of postdoctoral training for junior academicians/practitioners and thematic workshops and courses to enhance research capacity in vector biology and advance enhance vector control.
Donor: National Institutes of Health - Fogarty International Center (NIH-FIC), USA.
Funding Stream: Global Infectious Diseases (GID).
Grant No: D43-TW011813.
Role: Mireji (MPI), Aksoy (MPI), Yale University.
Funding Duration: 2023 - 2028.
Expanding Toolbox for Tsetse Fly Control in Kenya
Goal: To formulate novel tsetse fly attractants and repellents in Kenya.
Narrative: Tsetse flies transmit sleeping sickness and Nagana diseases are fatal to humans to their livestock in sub-Sahara, with no effective vaccines. Tsetse control using odor baited traps and targets is considered an effective strategy for control of these diseases. We investigate chemical ecology and behavioral responses of tsetse flies to odors, formulate novel tsetse attractants and repellents and optimize them for routine control of tsetse and trypanosomiasis in Kenya and sub-Sahara in general.
Donor: National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH-NIAID), USA.
Funding Stream: International Research in Infectious Diseases including AIDS (IRIDA)
Grant No: R01-AI169503
Role: Mireji (PI)
Funding Duration: 2022 - 2027.
Endosymbiont Mediated Chitin Catabolism in Tsetse Fly Gut Impacts Trypanosome Transmission
Goal: To characterize Sodalis genes related to tsetse’s peritrophic matrix (PM) and Sodalis-tsetse fly PM-trypanosome interactions.
Narrative: Generate fundamental information necessary to better understand the functional basis of the tsetse fly-Sodalis symbiosis. This research will provide functional insight into physiological mechanisms that mediate trypanosome infection establishment and transmission through the tsetse fly vector.
Donor: National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH-NIAID), USA.
Funding Stream: Exploratory/Developmental Research
Grant No: R21-AI173637
Role: Mireji (Subcontract PI), Weiss (PI), Yale University
Funding Duration: 2022 - 2027.
Upscaling Novel Bio-Rational Products for Controlling Tungiasis in Eastern Africa
Goal: To commercialize non-invasive and high-efficacy product for treating the infection and reducing infestation by jigger fleas in eastern Africa
Narrative: We are accelerating elimination of tungiasis in eastern Africa region by developing and commercializing accessible integrated technologies for controlling jigger flea in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. There are no efficient tools in the market for these in the Eastern Africa region despite demand. Alternatives are little effective, inaccessible, and not comfortable to use
Donor: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sweden.
Funding Stream: Bioinnovate Africa Program.
Grant No: BA/3/2022/05.
Role: Mireji (Subcontract PI), Omollo (PI), Masinde Muliro University.
Funding Duration: 2023 - 2025.
Completed Research Support
Development of Improved Semiochemical Prototypes and their Integrated Push–Pull Deployment in Area-Wide Control of Tsetse Flies in Eastern Africa
Goal: To our novel tsetse attractants and repellents on research-to-commercialization pathway in Eastern Africa.
Narrative: Develop and market new effective attractant and repellent blends technology for suppression of tsetse fly vectors of trypanosomiasis in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Tsetse and trypanosomiasis are major widespread medical and veterinary problems in most of eastern African region and beyond. Most livestock cannot be reared in the tsetse-infested areas without regular chemotherapy or sustainable tsetse control.
Donor: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sweden.
Funding Stream: Bioinnovate Africa Program.
Grant No: BA/C1/2018-14.
Role: Mireji (PI).
Funding Duration: 2018 - 2022.
Title: Control of Tsetse Fly Transmitted Diseases in Kenya.
Goal: To develop strategies for sustainable control of tsetse fly-transmitted African trypanosomiasis in Kenya
Narrative: Chemosensory physiology mediates tsetse’s host preference. Thus, the effectiveness of traps and targets, which are the predominant tsetse population control tools, can be enhanced by identification and application of attractive and repellent compounds. Tsetse fly genetics, together with environmental conditions, influence abundance and distribution traits, and resident microbiota influence parasite transmission ability.
Donor: National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH-NIAID), USA.
Funding Stream: International Collaborations in Infectious Diseases Research (ICDR)
Grant No: U01-AI115648.
Role: Mireji (Subcontract PI), Aksoy (PI), Yale University.
Funding Duration: 2015 - 2020.
Tsetse Transmitted African Trypanosomiasis
Goal: To strengthen biomedical capacity in tsetse biology, and to acquire and implement recent advances in applied vector genomics, genetics, bioinformatics and epidemiology in Disease Endemic Countries research activities to enable and enhance the control/management tools and methods for Human African Trypanosomiasis.
Narrative: Develop biomedical expertise east African institutions to address mechanisms of parasite transmission biology, genetics of vector competence, population biology and bioinformatics related to tsetse vectors and trypanosome parasites, as well as environmental and spatial analyses. Train a cadre of research experts/leaders who can address HAT epidemiology and vector control, and promote scientific evidence driven public health policy decisions in east Africa.
Donor: National Institutes of Health - Fogarty International Center (NIH-FIC), USA.
Funding Stream: Global Infectious Diseases (GID)
Grant No: D43 TW007391,
Role: Mireji (Subcontract PI), Aksoy (PI), Yale University.
Funding Duration: 2013 - 2018.
Molecular and functional characterization of olfaction genes in tsetse flies
Goal: To identify new olfaction responsive genes in selected tsetse fly species in Kenya using ecology and functional genomic tools.
Narrative: Human sleeping sickness transmitted by tsetse is a fatal disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In the absence of good vaccines and drugs, vector control can be an effective disease control strategy. We investigated molecular aspects of tsetse olfactory biology from three species resident in Kenya and have potential to improve efficacy of existing traps/targets or generate new methods.
Donor: National Institutes of Health - Fogarty International Center (NIH-FIC), USA.
Funding Stream: Small Grant Program.
Grant No: R03-TW009444.
Role: Mireji (Subcontract PI), Aksoy (PI), Yale University.
Funding Duration: 2013-2016.
Toxicity of Curry tree Phytochemical(s) to Anopheles gambiae Malaria Vector
Goal: To Identify new anti-mosquito phytochemicals, establish their efficacy and potential mode of action.
Narrative: Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto mosquito is the primary malaria vector. Growing resistance to pyrethroids presents a real and immediate challenge to the efficacy of otherwise successful insecticide-treated net (ITN)-based malaria control intervention against the adult vector. The interruption of mosquito-borne malaria transmission by targeting larval growth and the development of the mosquito using plant compounds, phytochemicals, has the potential of locally eliminating malaria. Efficient, locally accessible phytochemicals have the potential to significantly reduce the malaria vectors and contribute to the reduction and eventual elimination of malaria in Kenya and the region.
Donor: Grand Challenges Canada, Canada.
Funding Stream: Stars in Global Health.
Grant No: S4 0269-01.
Role: Mireji (Co-Investigator), Mang’era (PI), Egerton University
Funding Duration: 2013 – 2015.