REGISTRATION

Coordinators: Caroline Thuo, Gilbert Rotich and Andrew Kipkoech

PLENARY SESSION 1: OPENING CEREMONY AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS

MODERATOR: MARY AMA KUDOM-AGYEMANG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MEDIA PLATFORM ON ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE (MPEC), GHANA).

Welcome Remarks: Kwame Dei Asamoah-Okyere, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana National Biosafety Authority, Chair Local Organizing Committee

Welcome Remarks: Willy Tonui, Executive Director and Head of the Secretariat, African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium

Welcome Remarks: Misheck Mulumba, Congress President
Opening Remarks: Michael Santos, PhD, Senior Vice President, Science Partnerships, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

Welcome remarks: Dr Patrick Nomo,
Chief Director: Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation

Opening Remarks by the Chief Guest: Hon Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Republic of Ghana

Keynote address: Integrating genetic biocontrol into malaria control programs in a changing climate.

Fredros Okumu, Professor of Vector Biology (Infectious Disease Ecology) at the University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine.

This presentation will explore key aspects of integrating genetic biocontrol into malaria control programs in Africa in the face of evolving environments which include research, regulatory, and ecological conditions. It will discuss various questions that need to be addressed in order to successfully integrate these technologies, including the optimal implementation strategies, their impact on vector control and other interventions, and their potential to reduce the burden of malaria in different epidemiological settings.

PLENARY SESSION 2: EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND USE OF GENETIC BIOCONTROL APPROACHES IN AFRICA

MODERATOR: ERIC OKOREE

This session will describe the objectives for establishment of the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, goals and objective, thematic areas, and the role of member organizations which include Africa One Health Network (AfOHNet), Africa Biological Safety Association (AfBSA), The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM), Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA).

Presenters:

1. Willy Tonui: Expanding capacity for research, development, and use of genetic biocontrol approaches in Africa: The role of African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium.

2. Misheck Mulumba: Managing Zoonotic Infectious Diseases in Africa: The Key Role of the One Health Approach.

3. Martin Bundi: Expanding capacity for safety and security of biological materials in research, development in Africa: The role of African Biological Safety Association (AfBSA).

4 Charles Mbogo: An Africa free of mosquito-borne diseases: The role of Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA).

Lunch break,

Posters and exhibitions (ORGANIZERS: ELAINE AZU & CHARLES AFRIYIE-DEBRAH)

PLENARY SESSION 3: MALARIA CONTROL & NMCP PERSPECTIVE OF NEW TOOL INTRODUCTION

MODERATOR: CHARLES MBOGO

This panel discussion will explore the potential of these novel approaches, focusing on feasibility assessment, operational integration, and regulatory considerations. It will also outline an action plan for pilot testing, emphasizing site selection, stakeholder engagement, and impact assessment. Strategies for scaling up these interventions will be discussed, including capacity-building, policy alignment, and sustainable funding mechanisms.

Panelists
1. Dickson Lwetoijera, Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania

2. Abdoulaye Diabate, group lead of the Vector Biology Department at IRSS, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

3. Jonathan Kayondo, research scientist at Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda.

4. Fredros Okumu, University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine.

SESSION 4A: INNOVATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS IN VECTOR CONTROL

MODERATOR: FRED ABOAGYE-ANTWI

This session will explore the potential of gene drive technology as a transformative approach to vector control, adapting this technology to develop powerful genetic tools tailored to tackle specific pests of concern specifically targeting Anopheles mosquitoes, the primary vectors of malaria.

Presenters:

1. Amelie Wamba Ndongmo: Harnessing Gene Drive Technology for Sustainable Malaria Control in Africa.

2. Lakamy Sylla: Developing genetic tools for the control of Malaria vectors: targeting male mosquito fertility

3. Anna Strampelli: Development of the first self-sustaining gene drive for population suppression, for malaria mosquito, anopheles gambiae.

4. Paulette Ndjeunia-Mbiakop: Use of the salivary peptide Gsg6-P1 as a biomarker for assessing human exposure to Anopheles spp. bites in a context of LLINS use in two localities of the East Region of Cameroon.

5. Justin Overcash: The Potential use for AI in the Risk Assessment of Gene Drive Modified Mosquitoes.

6. Seth O. Agyei: Effects of environmental stress factors at larval stage on male Anopheles gambiae fitness

SESSION 4B: REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFE AND SECURE DEVELOPMENT FOR GENETIC BIOCONTROL STUDIES.

MODERATOR: BENJAMIN OBUKOWHO EMIKPE

The session will discuss highlights international regulations and ways to set up and operate a facility in close cooperation with local structures.

Presenters:

1. Okorie Joseph Michael: Genetic Biocontrol: Ensuring Safe and Secure Development through Biosafety, Biosecurity and Biocontainment in Africa.

2. Songwe Fanuel: Adoption of Biosafety and Biosecurity Standards for High-Containment Facilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Through Policy Harmonization.

3. Charles Afriyie-Debrah: Effective Biosafety Systems on the Nitrogen Use efficiency, Water Use efficiency and Salinity Tolerant Genetically modified Rice Trial in Ghana

4. Onyeka Kingsley Nwosu: The Potentials of Bacillus thuringensis Isolate and Its Cuticle-Degrading Enzymes Activity in the Biological Control of Callosobruchus maculatus in Stored Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

5. Antonio Nkondjio Christophe: The Central African Research and Health Ethics Committee (CERSAC): organisation, scope and challenges for better supervision and monitoring of biomedical and genetic biocontrol studies in Central Africa.

6. Dipl.-Ing. Claus Schweinheim: Design and Build of a BSL-3 laboratory facility and T&C of a laboratory.

7. Fortunate Muyambi: Enhancing Biotechnology Frameworks in the East African Community (EAC) for Sustainable Development