In September 2024, Frederic Tripet joined ACEME as Director of Research, Training and Partnerships. With a strong background in leading research and training initiatives, and extensive international experience in collaborative projects and advisory roles, Tripet brings valuable expertise to this new role. We spoke with him about his journey, his perspective on the field of vector control in Africa, and his vision for the future of ACEME.
What inspired you to pursue a career in entomology and eventually work on vector-borne diseases?
From a young age, I was fascinated by entomology – my father was an amateur entomologist, and I spent much of my childhood collecting and identifying different insect species. At fifteen, my family moved from Brussels to South Africa, where I developed a deep appreciation for tropical biodiversity, keeping a variety of animals as pets in our home. I later studied biology at Lausanne University in Switzerland, and completed a PhD at the University of Bern, where I researched host-parasite interactions in wild birds and their fleas, bringing an entomological perspective to a project that had previously focused mainly on the bird hosts.
After completing my PhD, I was keen on two things: returning to a warm climate and focusing on translational research – work with a direct and meaningful impact on society. Following a year at the University of California, Davis, I joined a research group based at the University of Texas Medical Branch, working with colleagues in Mali to explore the population genetics of malaria mosquitoes. One week into my postdoc, I was sent to the Malaria Research and Training Center at the University of Bamako, with no precise return date.
It was the late nineties; malaria was responsible for over 1 million deaths every year in Africa, and Mali was heavily affected. Work was challenging, but for the first time I really felt part of something bigger and important. I fell in love with my work, and with Mali, and I made wonderful friends and colleagues. Between 1999 and 2006, I travelled back to Bamako regularly to study the population genetics of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes – one of the main vectors of malaria in Africa.
In 2006, I joined Keele University and secured my first Wellcome Trust grant, which brought me to work on the first genetically modified mosquito research programme in Africa. Over a decade later, and after gaining diverse experiences, I was approached by former colleagues from the MRTC, to explore the possibility of taking on the role of Director of Research, Training and Partnerships at the newly launched African Center for Excellence in Molecular Engineering (ACEME). Given our shared history, I simply could not refuse the offer – it felt almost like coming home.
Why is innovation important in the fight against vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, and how does ACEME’s scope fit into ongoing work in the field?
With malaria, we are truly in an arms race against a constantly evolving mosquito and parasite. While cornerstone interventions such as insecticide-treated nets, indoor spraying, and antimalarial drugs have significantly contributed to reducing the disease burden, their effectiveness is now threatened by rising resistance. We need new tools and approaches, so that we can not only sustain the gains made over the years, but also keep driving progress. Because the disease is often entrenched in rural areas, with low access to health infrastructure, it is also crucial that these innovations be easily scalable and cost-effective, so they can reach those who need them the most.
Recent progress in molecular engineering and genomics has opened up new opportunities in the field of vector control. Through gene editing, we can introduce specific genes into the mosquito’s genome. These changes can boost the mosquito’s immunity to the malaria parasite (Plasmodium) or affect the mosquito’s ability to reproduce. By leveraging gene drive technologies, we can “drive” these modifications through mosquito populations, from one generation to the next. Because it is the mosquito itself that does the work, these tools could represent a sustainable and cost-effective approach to lower disease transmission in hard-to-reach areas.
ACEME aims to establish itself as a leading African research center for the development of genetic vector control innovations. Our research center will provide a platform for African researchers to learn advanced skills in genetic engineering and contribute to the development of new tools.
How do you see the field of vector control in Africa evolving in the next decade and beyond?
Several challenges are threatening progress in the fight against vector-borne diseases in Africa. In particular, the recently announced foreign aid cuts to malaria programmes – combined with ongoing challenges such as the rising impacts of climate change and growing resistance to available tools – could translate into a resurgence of malaria. At the same time, Africa’s economic growth offers hope. If all goes well, this will mean that an increasingly large proportion of Africa’s population will live in better housing with possibly screened doors and windows that can protect from mosquito bites indoors. It can also translate in increased funding for existing vector control interventions by African governments, and even possible contributions to research and innovation in the public health sector, including vector control. Decades of capacity building have also resulted in a strong pool of skilled African researchers who now need greater access to funding to drive innovation.
Tell us more about your new role at ACEME. What does this involve?
My role involves working with ACEME’s team and partners to establish a clear vision and strategy with regard to the center’s research and training activities. Having had previous leadership and advisory roles, I am familiar with both directing and coordinating large collaborative research and training structures and securing their funding. All plans and suggestions are discussed with ACEME’s team, partners, and senior advisors. My other responsibilities include leading the writing of grant applications and building new partnerships for collaborative projects and funding opportunities. I will also be representing ACEME at key conferences and meetings to promote our mission and activities to stakeholders including from the medical entomology, public health, and regulatory sectors.
How do you see ACEME progressing over the next few years? What will be key milestones for the Center’s work?
We are currently working on building our team’s capacity through training our staff, the majority of whom are undertaking PhDs. We expect this highly skilled core group to successfully complete their studies and move forward to handling ACEME’s research and training activities in molecular engineering, as well as administrative, regulatory affairs, and communication activities related to the center.
We are also planning to expand our team to strengthen our research and training capacities in molecular engineering and parasitology, and to support the development of an online training platform. This will help us deliver on our core objectives: training MSc and PhD students and hosting visiting researchers, as well as offering online trainings, and short courses on-site. We also aim to secure additional funding to support fellowships for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
To date, the design and development of innovative approaches to fight vector-borne diseases has mostly taken place outside of Africa. Our vision is to reshape this reality by building local capacity, fostering homegrown innovation, and ensuring that African researchers can drive the development of new solutions to fight vector-borne diseases on the continent and beyond.
