The Mosquito Control Laboratory (MCL) at QIMR Berghofer has been led by Associate Professor  Gregor Devine since 2013, with support from his postdoctoral team Dr Leon Hugo, Dr Jonathon Darbro and Dr Gordana Rasic. The MCL manages state-of-the art pathogen and insect quarantine facilities within an integrated building that includes animal houses and well-resourced laboratories. This gives the MCL the capacity to undertake studies on all aspects of vector biology and disease transmission. Our facilities were equipped using a AU$20 million grant from the Queensland Tropical Health Alliance (funded by Queensland State Government) and it is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. It significantly enhances Australia’s ability to respond to emerging vector-borne disease threats in the region and to test novel ideas for mosquito surveillance, control and for interrupting parasite and pathogen transmission. We hold an extensive library of viruses and mosquito strains and our research focuses on local and invasive mosquitoes (including insecticide resistant forms), their interaction with arboviruses, their ecology (including interactions with Wolbachia) and novel tools for their surveillance and control.

Associate Professor Greg Devine is also current president of the Mosquito and Arbovirus Research Committee (MARC) which supports operational research on the mosquito and disease control issues that are prioritised by government, industry and research organisations in Queensland. We lead, or participate, in a number initiatives in Asia and the Americas. Our current funding comes from the Commonwealth of Australia, local government ad state health authorities, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC), USAID and the US Armed Forces Pest Management Board.