Biology & Control of Disease Vectors

Programme Description

This course aims to provide training in the theoretical and practical aspects of the biology and control of disease vectors as well as the human pathogens that they transmit, and equip students with specialised skills to facilitate careers in global health that demand knowledge of the molecular biology of infectious diseases. Introductory sessions cover all aspects of major vector-borne diseases and offer a thorough grounding in the systematics of medically important arthropods, the main processes regulating vector populations, and in the biology of vector-parasite and vector-vertebrate interactions.

Graduates enter operational control programmes, applied basic research and academic fields.Students benefit from close interaction with staff who have extensive international expertise.

The James Busvine Memorial Medal and Prize, donated by Professor James Busvine in 1987, is awarded each year for outstanding performance.

Objectives

At the end of this course students should be able to: demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the biology of vectors and intermediate hosts of human pathogens together with methods for their control; describe the biology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of parasitic infections in humans and relate these to human health and disease control strategies; demonstrate a range of specialised technical and analytical skills relevant to vectors and vector-borne diseases; design and carry out a research project on biology or control of disease vectors, analyse and interpret the results and prepare a report including a critical literature review; design, undertake and evaluate vector control interventions, and show written and verbal competence in communicating scientific information.

Residential Field Trip

There is a compulsory one week field course, between Terms 2 and 3, on vector and parasite sampling and identification methods.

Project Report

Students complete a field or laboratory research project on an appropriate entomological topic.

Due to our collaborative networking, students are given the opportunity to conduct research projects overseas. This unique experience provides students with skills that are highly desirable to potential employers. For example, all of our 2005-6 graduates are now either working in relevant posts overseas (e.g. as field managers or NGO's in Bènin, Sudan and Tanzania), or have registered as research students (e.g. "Novel control strategies against leishmaniasis", Dept of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, "PCR assay to diagnose agriculturally important biotypes of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci", University of Nottingham/Rothamsted Research and "Chemical ecology of bed bugs", London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine/Rothamsted Research).

Course Duration

Full-time for one year or split study over two years. Students taking the course by split study over two years attend full-time for part of Year 1, and then undertake the remainder of the course in Year 2. The split can occur anytime between the Christmas break and the end of the formal teaching in May, by prior arrangement with the Course Director. Paper 2 may be taken at the end of Year 1 or at the end of Year 2. Paper 2 must be taken at the end of Year 2. Interested applicants should indicate their choice on the application form.