Biocentis Ranked First in a Grant Call to Develop Genetic Control Technologies for Aedes aegypti Mosquito
The Aedes aegypti mosquito stands as a significant global health threat due to its role as a vector of various arboviruses, including dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. Dengue fever, in particular, poses the greatest burden, affecting approximately 100 million people annually, with an estimated 3.5 billion people at risk worldwide. Historically confined to tropical regions, dengue fever is continuously spreading to new areas, with its global incidence having increased over 30-fold in the last 50 years.
Biocentis recently ranked first in a grant call by the Italian Fund for Applied Sciences of the Italian Ministry of University and Research with a project that will bolster the extension of the company’s ground-breaking technological platform to control Aedes aegypti. The project, presented in collaboration with Italian research institution Polo GGB, is worth over €3 million and is aimed at exploring novel genetic targets for biocontrol.
Andrew Hammond, Co-founder and Head of R&D of Biocentis, who will lead the project, underlined its significance: "Biocentis' technology platform has the potential to drive a paradigm shift in the way we control harmful insects. We are thrilled about the opportunity to continue extending it to Aedes aegypti with the support of this funding, given the recognized need for novel vector control solutions that can help reduce the devasting burden posed by this mosquito.”
For more information about Biocentis and their groundbreaking insect control solutions, please visit biocentis.com.
About Biocentis:
Biocentis is a biotech company and spin-out of Imperial College London who is re-imagining the future of insect control with a unique technology platform that combines environmental sustainability and unprecedented effectiveness. Biocentis wants to empower communities to combat disease-carrying insect vectors, protect crops and safeguard biodiversity.