Dr Abraham Mnzava, a director and Senior Malaria Advisor at ALMA, delivered the keynote address at a special Imperial College London event on 13 March 2025.

The event hosted by Imperial’s Global Development Hub and the Transmission Zero research programme brought together leading scientists, policymakers and global health advocates to explore the potential of gene drive technology and other innovative solutions to achieve malaria eradication.

Transmission Zero is a collaboration between Imperial researchers and partners in Tanzania, including the Ifakara Health Institute and the National Institute of Medical Research. Dr Mnzava also serves as chair of the Ifakara Health Institute’s board of trustees.

Profiling emerging areas of science and technology

At the event, Transmission Zero launched the STEM for Development Impact Memo on the use of modified gene drive mosquitoes to eliminate malaria. The memo profiles the emerging science and technology in this topic, with a view to creating links to policymakers and enhancing impact and informing evidence-based interventions.

The memo is co-authored by George K. Christophides and Nikolai Windbichler from Imperial and Dickson Wilson Lwetoijera from Ifakara Health Institute.

The need for new tools as we battle a perfect storm of challenges

In his keynote address, Dr Mnzava highlighted how new tools – such as modified gene drive mosquitoes – are vital as the African continent faces a perfect storm of malaria challenges. These challenges include climate change, insecticide resistance, serious financial gaps, an expanding population and humanitarian and health emergencies.

We are facing a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges which if not addressed, threatens a major resurgence – resulting in the loss of the hard-earned progress we have achieved in our joint efforts in the fight against malaria.

Dr Mnzava, ALMA director and Senior Malaria Advisor

Addressing gaps in financial resources

Along with the other aspects of the perfect storm, Dr Mnzava focused on the challenges of addressing significant financial gaps and its impact on often expensive research and development initiatives.

He highlighted how recent cuts in foreign development aid from several donor countries, especially from the United States, put vital malaria interventions across Africa at risk. Modelling by the Malaria Atlas Project estimates that these funding cuts could lead to 107,000 additional malaria deaths. Dr Mnzava shared that the vast majority of these deaths will be in children under five years of age.

Dr Mnzava discussed the importance of innovative financing mechanisms, including ALMA-supported national End Malaria Councils. These councils support the implementation of national malaria strategic plans through multisectoral advocacy, action, resource mobilisation and accountability.

These councils drive vital domestic resources. Nine councils have already been set up across the continent and have mobilised US$125 million to fund life-saving interventions.

Creating the environment for gene drive technology to succeed

For gene drive technology to succeed, Dr Mnzava identified several challenges, including community acceptance, complex regulatory landscapes across Africa, and the need for local manufacturing capacity.

The ALMA director called for strengthened partnerships, sustained momentum in gene drive research, cross-sector collaboration and technology transfer to African institutions.

I urge all partners to continue their commitment to strengthen existing global, regional and national partnerships – including mobilisation of the needed resources.

Dr Mnzava, ALMA director and Senior Malaria Advisor

Along with presentations by the authors of the memo, the event was opened by Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise at Imperial. These opening presentations were then followed by an informative panel discussion that included Dr Honorati Masanja (Chief Executive Director, Ifakara Health Institute), Professor Faith Osier (Chair in Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, Imperial), Michael Santos (Senior Vice President for Science Partnerships and Chief Population Health Science Officer, FNIH) and Victoria Fowler (Head of UK Advocacy, Malaria No More UK).

ALMA will continue collaborating with malaria partners across Africa and the globe to support local manufacturing of vital commodities and achieve a malaria-free Africa.

Learn more about Transmission Zero’s vital work on using modified gene drive mosquitoes to eliminate malaria.