Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Environmental Biology awarded $651,779 to The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) for collaborative research on anopheline mosquito eco-evolutionary dynamics. The three-year project, which commenced August 1, 2026 and concludes July 31, 2029, develops the first comprehensive phylogenomic, morphological, and ecological framework for anopheline mosquitoes—vectors responsible for malaria transmission and other zoonotic diseases. The research integrates phylogenetic analysis, genomic sequencing, and ecological modeling to characterize the evolutionary relationships, dispersal capabilities, and environmental limits of anopheline species, enabling public health agencies and mosquito control districts to anticipate disease threats rather than respond reactively to outbreaks.

Primary deliverables include an open-access digital atlas of anopheline mosquitoes hosted by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, along with foundational research advancing understanding of 489 described anopheline species—fewer than 75 of which have been tested for pathogen transmission capacity. The project provides workforce development through training of a postdoctoral fellow, graduate students, and undergraduates at the intersection of genomics, biodiversity informatics, and public health entomology. By establishing baseline evolutionary and ecological knowledge of this critical disease vector group, the research strengthens the Nation's scientific and public health enterprises in addressing expanding mosquito-borne disease threats, particularly in light of invasive species range expansion into previously uncolonized regions including parts of the United States.