Eave Tube Phase 3 Randomized Control Trial in Ivory Coast (2016 – 2020)
In2Care Eave Tubes are being evaluated in a large epidemiological Randomized Control Trial in Ivory Coast in collaboration with Penn State University, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Institute Pierre Richet. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a five-year $10.2 million grant for our Project entitled “Transition of Eave Tubes from Concept to Implementation”, which allows a thorough investigation of Eave Tubes as a new method to prevent the transmission of malaria. Based on a study protocol reviewed by the WHO Vector Control Advisory Group, 20 villages in the Bouake area of Ivory Coast have been selected to receive Eave tubes and (untreated) window screening as a protective intervention, and 20 control villages are included for baseline measurements. Impacts of the insecticide-treated Eave Tubes on resistant mosquito populations and malaria transmission will be monitored during a 2-year period. Social science studies are included to asses acceptability and community engagement.
As product developer and IP owner, In2Care is tasked to set up scalable production processes and deliver sustainable business models for effective distribution and uptake of Eave Tubes at the end of the trial. In2Care will invest in the development of low-cost mass-scale production processes, automated and quality-controlled insecticide applicators, and high-throughput insert cleaning machines for Eave Tube recycling. We will also develop low-tech installation tools for a timely and cost-efficient delivery of neat mosquito-proof houses. Product life-time of Eave Tube inserts with our special In2Care coated gauze will be assessed on resistant mosquitoes over time and optimized when needed by tweaking the insecticide powder applications. Implementation pilots in several malaria-endemic regions will serve to assess different routes to market and optimize the commercial viability of the Eave Tube product.
More information about the In2Care Eave tubes: click here
Eave Tube Trial & Commercialization in Tanzania (2015 – 2017)
In collaboration with the Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) Tanzania and our local research partner the Ifakara Health Institute, In2Care is undertaking a large-scale field evaluation of Eave Tubes in Tanzania. In total, 1,500 houses in the Dar es Salaam and Morogoro regions receive In2Care Eave Tubes as a new malaria intervention product. The local IHI research team will assess social acceptance and entomological impacts. In2Care will deliver quality-controlled mass-production systems, and work on exploring business models for scaling this intervention and making the product available and affordable for the local communities.
For more information, click here to see the project video made by IHI and HDIF.
Quality assured industrial scale production of eave tube inserts for malaria control in Africa (2015-2016)
In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ir. Jasper van der Gucht, Chair of the Laboratory for Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science of the Wageningen University, we received an STW Take-off Feasibility Study grant.
The key goal of this project is to develop the In2Care eave tube technology in such manner that industrial-scale and quality-assured production becomes possible, to ensure wide-scale uptake in African countries to maximize impact on malarial disease. The grant will be used to develop industrial procedures for particle application on electrostatically charged netting and eave tube insert injection molding.
Mosquito Contamination Device (MCD) project (2012-2015)
In2Care is Project Coordinator of the MCD project. This research project is funded under the European Union’s Framework 7 Health Innovation initiative and aims to develop a novel Mosquito Contamination Device (MCD) for controlling malaria vectors. The goal is to develop prototype products that are effective, low-cost and sustainable.
The project partners include three European SMEs and two academic partners that bring together a unique mix of expertises in materials science, mosquito vector control science, trapping technologies, and entrepreneurial interests. Jointly, we develop and test new vector control techniques, mosquito lures and bioactive ingredients in the laboratory, semi-field cages and field settings in Tanzania.
Results from our Eave Tube product developments and field studies performed in Tanzania have now been published in the Malaria Journal. Please click on the links to read our Introduction paper, semi-field study paper and modeling paper.
Fungus-treated house screens for mosquito control (2012)
In 2011 we, together with the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania, have received an innovation grant from the UBS Optimus Foundation. For this project we developed a first-line house screen product based on a unique coating with fungus spores that can effectively kill mosquitoes. Fungi are promising novel (biological) mosquito control agents that can complement existing mosquito-borne disease interventions. Added benefit from fungus infection is that it counteracts resistance as a late life killing agent and it makes insecticide resistant mosquitoes susceptible for insecticides once more.
Paint against Dengue mosquitoes (2011-2012)
Our first project was funded by an Innovation Grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and focussed on developing an effective control product against Dengue mosquitoes. During a 12-month R&D project combined known Aedine mosquito attractants with novel mosquito control agents, for which developed a long-lasting coating application in collaboration with two industrial partners.