DMC-MALVEC · Project

Automated Mosquito Diagnostics Platform for Smarter Malaria Vector Control in Africa

healthPilotedTRL 6

Imagine you need to know which mosquitoes carry malaria and which ones are resistant to insecticides — but the lab tests are expensive, slow, and the results end up in scattered spreadsheets nobody can use. This project built an all-in-one disc (like a high-tech CD) that can identify mosquito species, check for infections, and test insecticide resistance automatically. It also created a central data system to collect and organize all that monitoring data, plus a game-based training tool so health workers in Africa actually know how to use the results. The whole package was tested in 4 African countries to help malaria control programs make better decisions.

By the numbers

500,000

malaria deaths per year in sub-Saharan Africa

sub-Saharan African countries where the system was implemented

consortium partners across 9 countries

total project deliverables

demo deliverables including lab-scale and pilot validation

The business problem

What needed solving

Malaria kills over 500,000 people per year in sub-Saharan Africa, and prevention depends on insecticide-based vector control. But monitoring which mosquitoes carry the disease and which are resistant to insecticides is expensive, fragmented, and the resulting data is poorly organized — making it nearly impossible for control programs to make evidence-based decisions about where and how to deploy interventions.

The solution

What was built

The project built three integrated tools: the LabDisk, an automated multiplex diagnostic disc that identifies mosquito species, detects infections, and profiles insecticide resistance in one sample-to-answer workflow; the DDMS, a custom data management system validated in Cameroon for collecting and querying entomological monitoring data; and the GAME, an interactive training platform validated in Zambia and Ethiopia that teaches health workers how to use vector control data for decision-making.

Audience

Who needs this

Point-of-care diagnostics manufacturers targeting tropical disease marketsHealth IT companies building disease surveillance platforms for low-resource settingsInsecticide and bednet manufacturers selling into African malaria programsNational malaria control programs and WHO-affiliated vector control unitsGlobal health NGOs funding or managing vector control interventions

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Global Health Diagnostics

mid-size

Target: Diagnostic device manufacturers or distributors serving tropical disease markets

If you are a diagnostics company looking to expand into the malaria testing market in sub-Saharan Africa — this project developed the LabDisk, an automated multiplex diagnostic platform that performs mosquito species identification, infection detection, and insecticide resistance profiling in a single sample-to-answer workflow. It was demonstrated at lab scale and designed to operate at substantially lower cost than current assays used in Africa. With over 500,000 malaria deaths per year, the addressable market for vector surveillance tools is significant.

Public Health Data Management

SME

Target: Health IT companies building disease surveillance and epidemiological data platforms

If you are a health IT company building disease monitoring systems — this project created the Disease Data Management System (DDMS), custom software that collects entomological monitoring data, stores it in standardized formats, and delivers stratified information based on user queries. It was configured and validated in Cameroon with historical entomology data. The system addresses a real gap: malaria control programs across 4 sub-Saharan African countries generating vector data with no unified way to organize or interpret it.

Vector Control Operations

enterprise

Target: Insecticide manufacturers or bednet distributors supplying malaria-endemic regions

If you are an insecticide or bednet manufacturer selling into African markets — this project provides the data infrastructure that tells national malaria programs which products actually work where. The integrated system (LabDisk + DDMS + training GAME) was piloted across 4 countries and reveals insecticide resistance profiles by region. This means your sales and R&D teams can target products to areas where they remain effective, reducing waste and improving outcomes for a 10-partner, 9-country validated system.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does the LabDisk diagnostic platform cost compared to existing methods?

The project objective states the LabDisk performs genotyping at substantially lower cost compared to assays currently used in Africa. Specific per-test pricing is not available in the project data. A licensing or manufacturing partner would need to discuss unit economics with the consortium.

Has this been tested at scale in real-world conditions?

Yes. The DDMS was configured and validated in Cameroon for collecting historical entomology data. The GAME training tool was validated in Zambia and Ethiopia with available entomological and insecticide resistance databases. The integrated system was implemented across 4 sub-Saharan African countries. The LabDisk was demonstrated at lab scale.

What is the IP situation and how can a company license this technology?

The project was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon 2020 with 10 partners across 9 countries. IP ownership typically rests with the consortium members who developed each component. A company interested in licensing the LabDisk, DDMS, or GAME platform should contact the coordinator at IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS in Greece.

Can this system be adapted beyond malaria to other vector-borne diseases?

The project objective explicitly states the system has a vast expansion potential in other applications. The LabDisk's multiplex diagnostic approach and the DDMS data architecture could be adapted for dengue, Zika, or other mosquito-borne disease surveillance. Based on available project data, the core platform was validated for malaria vectors specifically.

What regulatory approvals are needed to deploy this in African countries?

Based on available project data, the system was piloted in 4 sub-Saharan African countries (including Cameroon, Zambia, and Ethiopia). Regulatory pathways for diagnostic devices vary by country. The project focused on vector surveillance rather than clinical diagnostics, which may simplify regulatory requirements in some jurisdictions.

How long would it take to deploy this in a new country?

The project ran from 2016 to 2020 and achieved validated pilots in multiple countries by month 24. Based on deliverable timelines, the DDMS configuration and GAME validation were completed within 24 months. A commercial deployment leveraging existing validated components could potentially be faster.

Consortium

Who built it

The DMC-MALVEC consortium brings together 10 partners from 9 countries, including 2 industry partners and 2 SMEs (20% industry ratio). The geographic spread covers both technology developers in Europe (Greece, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, UK, Switzerland) and end-user countries in Africa (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Zambia), which is critical for a product that must work in African field conditions. The coordinator is a Greek research foundation (IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS). With 3 universities and 3 research organizations providing the scientific backbone, plus industry partners for commercialization, the consortium is well-structured for technology transfer — though the relatively low industry ratio suggests commercialization may need additional private-sector partners to reach market.

IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNASCoordinator · EL
LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINEparticipant · UK
MINISTRY OF HEALTHparticipant · ZM
JIMMA UNIVERSITYparticipant · ET
SCHWEIZERISCHES TROPEN UND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTparticipant · CH
GEOPONIKO PANEPISTIMION ATHINONparticipant · EL
HAHN-SCHICKARD-GESELLSCHAFT FUR ANGEWANDTE FORSCHUNG EVparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

The coordinator is IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS (Greece). SciTransfer can facilitate a warm introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing the LabDisk platform or integrating the DDMS into your disease surveillance systems? SciTransfer connects businesses with the research teams behind EU-funded innovations. Contact us for a tailored introduction.

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