Burkinabe Scientist Develops Gene-Editing Technique to Combat Malaria

Dr. Abdoulaye Diabate's innovative research offers hope for malaria control, but concerns about environmental impact remain.

Dr. Abdoulaye Diabate, a Burkinabe scientist, has developed a gene-editing technique that could potentially eradicate malaria-transmitting mosquito species.
Diabate was awarded the prestigious 2023 Falling Walls Prize for Science and Innovation Management for his research, which is seen as a major breakthrough in malaria control.
Malaria remains a leading cause of death in Burkina Faso, claiming nearly 19,000 lives in 2021 alone.
The gene-editing technique, known as 'gene drive technology', involves releasing gene-edited male mosquitoes that are sterile into the environment, which prevents female mosquitoes from producing new female offspring.
Despite the potential of this technology, concerns have been raised about its impact on the environment and ecosystems, and it may take a few more years to roll out in Africa.