Leiden University Researchers, Funded by Bill Gates, Use Genetically Modified Mosquitoes for Malaria Vaccines, Raising Ethical Concerns

Jan 2, 2025, 02:20 PM

Researchers at Leiden University Medical Center, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with $1,578,317, have developed a novel method for delivering malaria vaccines using genetically modified mosquitoes. These mosquitoes, dubbed 'flying vaccinators,' are engineered to transmit a modified malaria parasite, GA2, to humans through bites. In a study involving 43 participants, conducted over three sessions, the mosquitoes carrying the GA2 parasite provided protection to 88% of the subjects, significantly higher than the 12.5% protection rate observed in the placebo group using the GA1 parasite. The initiative aims to combat malaria, a disease that resulted in 597,000 deaths in 2023 according to the World Health Organization. The research has sparked ethical concerns regarding informed consent, as similar studies have highlighted potential issues with this method of vaccine delivery.