The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will promote vector research in the country and will also develop a common platform for scientists working on vectors of various ICMR and non-ICMR institutes to have an effective exchange of views.

To begin research in the neglected gap areas of vector research, the premier research institute in the country has identified four broad areas of vector control; bionomics of vectors and transmission dynamics; development of molecular identification/monitoring tools; and morphological taxonomy of species complexes.

Earlier in July 2010, the ICMR had formulated Vector Science Forum in order to promote vector research in the country. The forum aims at reviewing and prioritizing the needs in vector research, identifying neglected gap areas of vector research, comprehending the various research projects carried out by researchers, facilitating to make available resources to laboratories which need them and facilitating development of expertise on vectors.

The ICMR's Vector Science Forum Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases has invited concept proposals in this connection.

Under the Vector Control area, the study will focus on multi-centric trials to assess acceptability and utility of long-lasting/insecticide treated hammocks and other suitable insecticide impregnable material in malaria endemic areas with extra domiciliary transmission; and efficacy of LLINs/insecticide treated curtains in urban and semi-urban settings including in urban agglomerations and towns, and at construction/developmental project sites with temporary human habitats with migration of labour from high malaria risk areas where An. stephensi and/or An. culicifacies are vectors.

It will also focus on community sensitization strategies to improve acceptability of indoor residual spraying and avoidance of mud plastering of houses after spray in malaria and kala azar disease endemic areas; and  acceptance and regular usage of ITNs/LLINs in malaria endemic areas; Epidemiological impact of DDT indoor residual spraying in malaria/kala azar endemic areas where vectors exhibit variable levels of susceptibility to DDT; and Development of novel (transgenic and paratransgenic) control strategies for vector species of malaria, dengue/chikungunya and kala azar.

Under the Bionomics of Vectors and Transmission Dynamics, the research will be on bionomics of vectors and transmission dynamics of visceral/cutaneous leishmaniasis in areas where new foci have been found and Faunistic surveys of different species of sand flies to study their distribution in the country, and identification of local eco-environmental determinants. It will also focus on determination of the role of PKDL and asymptomatic cases in the transmission dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis; and Studies on Aedes species and molecular phylogenetics of dengue viruses.

The other focus area will be on studies on bionomics of suspected mosquito species in JE transmission in different ecoepidemiological situations to examine resting and feeding habits, seasonal abundance, breeding potential, propensity for high adult densities, long survival, extent of anthropophily, transmission ability etc. in addition to finding virus detection in mosquitoes to declare a species to be a definite vector.

Under the Development of molecular identification/monitoring Tools, the study will focus on Bar-coding of disease vector fauna of different eco-geographical regions in the country; and Development of robust molecular identification techniques to distinguish sibling species of the An. fluviatilis and An. minimus complexes and also members of An. Minimus Group; An. culicifacies complex; and Phlebotomus argentipes complex.

It will also focus on development of molecular markers for screening and monitoring resistance to different insecticides in different vector species; Development of molecular assays for the detection of natural infection and host blood meal in sand flies; and development of robust field applicable tools for incrimination of JE vectors.

Under the Morphological taxonomy of species complexes, the study will focus on descriptive morphology of associated life cycle stages of sibling species of the An. culicifacies complex; An. fluviatilis complex; and An. annularis complex to give binomial nomenclature to each sibling species identified so far in these complexes. It will also focus on Descriptive morphology of associated life cycle stages of three sibling species of the Phlebotomus argentipes complex identified namely of Phlebotomus argentipes s.s.; Phlebotomus annandalei; and Phlebotomus glaucus.