Target Malaria is a nonprofit research consortium working to develop gene drive technologies to control the mosquitoes that transmit malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. It is led by Austin Burt, a professor of evolutionary genetics at Imperial College London.

Activities

In July 2019, after obtaining approval from the National Biosafety Agency and the ethics committee of the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé of Burkina Faso, Target Malaria released a strain of genetically modified (but non gene drive) sterile male mosquito in Bana, a town in the Balé province of that West African country.^[3] Target Malaria has also research teams in Cape Verde, Ghana, Mali, and Uganda.

Evaluation

Target Malaria is primarily funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Open Philanthropy, which in May 2017 recommended a $17.5 million grant over four years.^[2][4] Open Philanthropy estimates that their grant to Target Malaria is competitive with donations to the Against Malaria Foundation.^[5]