Keynote and invited lectures
(updated on December 15, 2024 and will evolve further)
Venue:
Symposia and lectures: Kurinji and Palai Halls, Saveetha Medical College
Posters and exhibition: Halls adjacent to Kurinji Hall
Registration: Desk outside of Kurinji Hall
Tea/coffee breaks and lunches: Dining room adjacent to Kurinji Hall
Day 1 – Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Keynote address and plenaries
1. Perspectives on insecticide innovation for malaria vector control. Dr Justin McBeath, CEO, Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), Liverpool, UK
2. Scale-up of biological, targeted mosquito-based solutions for the world’s most important dengue vector, Aedes aegypti . Mr. Grey Fransdsen, CEO, Oxitec, Oxford, UK
3. Integrations of new approaches to control tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus in Europe. Prof. Dr Norbert Becker, University of Heidelberg, Germany
4. Global landscape of emerging vector-borne infections. Dr Charles (Ban) Beard, Principal Deputy Director, CDC, USA
Symposium 1 – Galvanizing the control of Aedes-borne diseases
1. Global threat and management of dengue: A WHO Perspective. Dr Raman Velayudhan, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
2. Experience with a novel strategy of releasing sterile male Aedes aegypti for population control. Dr Michelle Brown, West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, California, USA
3. Dengue epidemiology and control in Sri Lanka. National Dengue Control Unit, Colombo, Sri Lanka (invited speaker).
4. Galvanising control of Aedes-borne diseases in the WHO African Region: progress, constraints and prospects. Dr Emmanuel Chanda, WHO AFRO, Brazzaville, DRC Congo
5. Understanding the Aedes aegypti mosquito ecology to reduce dengue transmission in Tanzania. Frank Tenywa, Vector Control Product Testing Unit, Ifakara Health Institute,
Bagamoyo, Tanzania
6. Epidemiological overview of VBDs in Latin America during 2023-2024, focusing on dengue in Argentina. Dr Christina B. McCarthy, Centro Regional de La Plata, Consejo
Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Argentina
7. Zika Virus: An Emerging Public Health Threat - Current Status and Future Outlook. Dr R. Paramasivan, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Madurai, India
8. The genetic landscape of Aedes aegypti in India and its implications for vector control. Dr Bhavna Gupta, ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Madurai, India
Symposium 2 – Dengue case management: towards zero case fatality (Palai Hall)
1. Promising stem cell therapy for the treatment of Dengue. Prof. Dr Suresh Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Saveetha University, Thandalam, Chennai, India
2. Managing dengue in neonates and children: Dr J. Kumutha, Neonatologist & Dean, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Thandalam, Chennai, India
3. Updates on the management of dengue fever. Dr R. Kannan, Deputy Dean and Prof. Internal Medicine Dept., Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Thandalam, Chennai, India.
4. Increasing dengue burden in Bangladesh: How to advance the efficacy of dengue prevention and control. Dr Isik Unlu (& Dr Kabirul Bashar), Research Entomologist,
St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement, Slidell Louisiana, USA
5. Dengue case management: case studies from Sri Lanka. National Institute of Infectious Diseases (invite speaker).
Turbo talks
1. Industrial hotspot: Infestation of invasive Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Puducherry, India. Dr Jency Prisckilla, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
2. Status of malaria prevention strategies in endemic districts of India - Findings of community study (2023-24). Dr B. M. Srinivasa. ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research,
New Delhi, India.
3. Emerging threat of Anopheles stephensi in Koraput, Odisha: A new challenge for malaria elimination efforts. Dr Anju Viswan, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre,
Field Station, Koraput, Odisha, India.
4. Critical appraisal of systematic reviews on the effectiveness of LLINs. Richa Singhal. ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
5. Bio-efficacy, physical integrity, and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets in the context of malaria elimination in the Nancowry group of Islands, Andaman & Nicobar.
Ms. Divya Teja Koppula, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
6. Role of female gender in malaria elimination efforts. Dr Piyush Kumar Singh. ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
General body meeting of the SOVE: Palai Hall (Ground Floor, SMC)
Gala dinner at Pleasant Days Resort
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Day 2 – Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Symposium 3: Progress in the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases in India: A National Programme Perspective
Opening remarks on the elimination of Vector-Borne Diseases in India. Dr Tanu Jain, Director, National Centre for Vector-borne Disease Control (NCVBDC-DGHS, Govt. of India), New Delhi.
Panel discussion: Chairperson: Dr Tanu Jain; Co-Chair: TBD
Discussants: Dr P J Bhuyian, Additional Director, NCVBDC, New Delhi; Dr Rinku Sharma, Joint Director, NCVBDC, New Delhi, WHO representative, representatives from partner agencies
Discussion topics:
· Advancing lymphatic filariasis towards elimination: From global two-pronged strategy to enhanced five-pronged strategy.
· Accelerating Kala-azar elimination: Insights, innovations and priorities in the post-elimination phase to sustain the elimination gains.
· National Malaria Elimination Programme: The impact of revised strategies in progressing towards elimination of malaria and last mile challenges
· Emerging challenges in the prevention and control of dengue.
· Success stories and sharing of the best practices in the VBD programme by State Programme Officers of VBD endemic States.
Symposium 4: Research toward ending malaria in India by 2030
Keynote addresses
1. Galvanising research for malaria elimination by Dr Anup Anvikar, Director, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
2. The experiences with the efforts towards malaria elimination in high burden Odisha State, India. Dr M. M. Pradhan, Additional District Public Health Officer (VBD),
Boudh District, Odisha, India (Formerly State Programme Officer, NVBDCP, Odisha).
Invited talks
1. Anopheles stephensi, urban malaria vector and its geographical expansion – Challenges for malaria elimination. Dr Alex Eapen, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Field Station, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
2. Mosquitocidal activity of Aristolochia bracteolata LAM. against vector mosquitoes. Dr John Ravindran, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Field Station, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu, India.
3. The hidden burden of non-severe neurological complications of malaria. Dr Vani H.C., ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Field Station, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
4. Alternate vector control strategy using insecticidal paints. Dr Himmat Singh, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
5. Studying the severe vivax malaria trends in Delhi. Dr Vineeta Singh, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
6. Exploring the suitability of the carnivorous plant, Utricularia aurea as a vector control tool in an urban area. Dr Ajeet Kumar Mohanty, National Institute of Malaria Research, Field Station, Goa, India.
7. Bionomics of malaria vectors in Gujarat, India. Dr Rajendra Baharia. National Institute of Malaria Research, Field Station, Nadiad, Gujarat, India.
8. Genetic diversity and population structure of Anopheles stephensi at port cities in India. Dr Prashant Malik, National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
9. Sensory perception in mosquito immunity: Defining a role beyond host-seeking. Dr Tina Mukherjee, inStem, Bangalore, India.
10. Anti-malarial drug resistance in Nancowry group of Islands in Andaman & Nicobar archipelago. Dr Mradul Mohan. ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
11. Mesenchymal stem cells protect against malaria pathogenesis by modulating regulatory T cells and reprogramming erythropoiesis in the bone marrow. Dr Jyoti Das, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
12. Parasitological, entomological and epidemiological studies in malaria-endemic areas of North East India: New Insights. Dr Ipsita Bhaumik, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
13. Spatial distribution of malaria parasite in endemic areas of Nancowry islands. Dr Sunish IP, ICMR- Regional Medical Research Centre, Port Blair, India.
14. Anastasia Mosquito Control District programs: Dr Rui-De Xue, Executive Director, Anastasia Mosquito Control District, St. Augustine, FL 32092, USA.
15. Relative efficacy of anti-Plasmodium vivax malaria combination drugs in preventing transmission to two major Anopheles mosquitoes in the first few days of treatment.
Prof. Paulo F. P. Pimenta, Senior Researcher, Head of the Brazilian Laboratory of Medical Entomology and Senior Professor at Institute Rene Rachou, FIOCRUZ - Minas Gerais. Brazil.
Symposium 5: Elimination of lymphatic filariasis
1. An adjunct strategy to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in India. Dr S. Sabesan, Formerly Scientist G, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
2. Gene Polymorphism in filarial parasites- identification of biomarkers useful in monitoring elimination programme, Dr S. L. Hoti, Emeritus Scientist, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
3. Xenomonitoring of Culex transmitted Bancroftian filariasis: a tool for post-validation surveillance of filariasis elimination. Dr K. Krishnamoorthy, Former Scientist-G,
ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
4. Adenolymphangitis episodes in patients with filarial lymphedema. Dr Vijesh Sreedhar, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
Symposium 6: Elimination of leishmaniasis and experiences from the South-East Asia region
1. Global visceral leishmaniasis situation, progress and challenges. Dr Saurabh Jain, WHO/NTD, Geneva, Switzerland
2. Nationwide cross-sectional surveillance of Leishmania donovani in Nepal: multidisciplinary approaches. Dr Surendra Kumar Uranw, Tropical & Infectious Disease, Department of
Internal Medicine, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
3. Citation network analysis of eight decades of research on Phlebotomus argentipes: A potential vector of leishmaniasis. Dr Yash Pal Sharma, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Institute of Research in Medical Sciences, Patna, India.
4. Ignorance of behavioural studies & Seasonal Dynamics in vector control program- a major hurdle in the elimination of leishmaniasis- taking too casually a big issue. Nalini Mishra,
Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
5. Challenges towards visceral leishmaniasis elimination in India. Dr Anil Kumar, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Institute of Research in Medical Sciences, Patna, India.
General body meeting of the Academy of Public Health Entomology: Palai Hall (Ground Floor, SMC)
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Day 3 – Thursday, 23 January 2025
Complimentary ecological tour - Lunch will be provided
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Day 4 – Friday, 24 January 2025
Symposium 7: Novel tools and approaches: from innovation to impact
Keynote Addresses
1. Considerations to improve insecticide-treated net durability. Dr Sarah More, Ifakara Health Institute, Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Thematic Group,
Bagamoyo, Tanzania.
2. Self-limiting FriendlyTM mosquitoes for biological management of disease-spreading mosquitoes. Dr Neil Morrison, Oxitec, UK.
Invited talks
3. Regulatory pathway for registration of vector control and household pesticide products in India. Dr Archana Sinha, Central Insecticide Board, Faridabad, India
4. Regulatory agility – need for rapid deployment of vector control tools. Dr Vasanthan Paul, IVCC (UK), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
3. The role of host-odour sensing in the evolution of mosquito vector competency: A friend or a foe. Meghashree Naik et al., Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine,
Bangalore, India.
4. Nationwide molecular xenomonitoring of Leishmania donovani: Its impact on National Kala-azar Elimination Programme in India. Dr Prasantha Saini, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
Symposium 8: Insecticide resistance: Managing biological threat to vector control efforts
1. Managing insecticide resistance: A potential threat in vector-borne disease elimination. Prof. Rajpal S Yadav, Academy of Public Health Entomology, Udaipur, India.
2. Insecticide resistance management: WHO technical support in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Dr Samira Al-Eryani, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt.
3. Global trends in procurement of quality-assured insecticide resistance test kits. Ms Nur Amira and Dr Zary Yahya, Vector Control Research Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia,
Penang, Malaysia.
4. Insecticide resistance in sand fly vectors in Nepal. Ms Lalita Roy et al., Tropical and Infectious Disease Centre, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.
5. Breaking Down Resistance: Microbial Biodegradation of Methyl Parathion in Fields and Its Role in Combating Mosquito Cross-Resistance. Mr. Muthukumaravel,
ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
Symposium 9: Household pest control: towards improving public health
1. Beyond IPM with the power of pest risk management. Dr Raja Mahendran, International Business Consultant, Sydney, Australia.
2. Challenges faced by the structural pest control industry – Need for a collaborative approach. Dr Anil Mazgaonkar, Pest Management Association, Mumbai.
3. Green revolution in vector management. Dr Stelson Quadros, Indian Pest Control Association, Mumbai.
4. Pest management industry in India – A perspective. Dr Anil Makkapati, Formerly Envu, Singapore, Gurugram, Haryana.
5. Use of botanicals for management of insect vectors. Mr Ketan Mehta, Ecosense Labs Pvt Ltd., Mumbai, India.
Symposium 10: Climate change and vector-borne diseases: Understanding the environmental impacts
1. Short and long-term impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases. Prof. Ashwani Kumar, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Saveetha Institute of Technical and Medical Sciences, Chennai, India.
2. Impact of Climatic Factors on the Occurrence of Malaria in Hyper, High, Moderate, and Low Endemic States in India from 1995 to 2023. Dr M. Muniyaraj, ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Madurai, India.
3. Climate change and malaria. Prof. Mercedes Pascual, Biology and Environmental Studies, New York University, USA.
Symposium 11: Monitoring of threats of emerging vector-borne diseases [Scrub typhus, KFD, WNV, Chandipura virus, Lyme Disease]
1. Unravelling Lyme Borreliosis: A Global Challenge for Public Health. Dr Rina Tilak, Formerly Scientist G, Dept. of Community Medicine, Armed Forces Medical College,
Pune, India.
2. A one health approach to investigate the distribution of Orientia tsutsugamushi among the elements of epidemiological triads in Puducherry. Dr Srikanth Srirama, ICMR-Vector
Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
3. Tick species diversity on domestic animals across different agro-climatic regions of Tamil Nadu, India. Mr. A. Elango, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India.
Symposium 12: Development of vaccines for vector-borne diseases
1. An update on dengue vaccine development in India. Dr Leanna Suzan George, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.
2. Development of Zika vaccine at the Indian Immunologicals Limited. Dr K. Anandkumar, IIL, Hyderabad, India.
3. Development of vaccine for Lymphatic Filariasis. Dr Ramaswamy Kalyanasundram, University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Rockford, Illinois, USA.
4. Post-Pandemic Challenges to prioritise zoonotic vector-borne diseases of India and One Health Approach. Dr Pragya Yadav, ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, India.
5. Current status of Malaria vaccine trials. Dr Kailash Pandey, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
Valedictory function and prize distribution