NIMR

Dr. Yahya A. Derua

SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER

Dr. Derua is a Senior Research Officer at the National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Mosquito Larvae Ecology and Control from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, a master of Molecular Biology from the University of Dar es Salaam and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania. His training and research experience cover broad areas of medical entomology and parasitology. Dr. Derua has a track record in the area of mosquito-borne diseases research particularly in malaria and lymphatic filariasis vectors for 16 years. Dr. Derua has experience in areas of mosquito ecology, behaviour, systematics and mosquito control interventions. Dr. Derua has been involved in longitudinal monitoring of the effect of mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis by detecting filarial worms in human and mosquito vectors. Some of his research work on effect of ivermectin on malaria vectors contributed to the development of a novel method for malaria vector control using ivermectin. In collaboration with other researchers, he has documented a longitudinal decline in malaria vectors and change in composition of Anopheles gambiae complex from pre-dominantly Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto in the past to Anopheles arabiensis in north eastern Tanzania. The same research work documented a shift in filarial vector from transmission by Anopheles to Culex quinquefasciatus. Dr. Derua has experience working with mosquito traps, repellents, bio-larvicides and lures used for mosquito surveillance and /or control. Dr. Derua has supervised two master’s dissertations and one doctoral thesis. Dr. Derua has published 25 papers as first and co-author in peer reviewed international journals.