Professor of Public Health Garners Accolades at Grand Challenges Annual Meeting in Senegal

A leading expert in Public Health Entomology and Parasitology at Osun State University, Professor Monsuru Adeleke, recently garnered acclaim at the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting in Senegal, organized by renowned institutions such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Grand Challenges Canada, among others.

The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting serves as a yearly congregation for eminent scientists, researchers, and innovators worldwide. This platform offers an opportunity for participants to showcase their inventions and discoveries, fostering networking, partnerships, and collaboration. Professor Adeleke was among the select group of six scholars invited to present their research work and partake in a private dinner with Bill Gates and other dignitaries on October 9, 2023.

Professor Adeleke’s research is centred on geospatial machine learning and geostatistical modelling to identify suitable habitats for black flies. His work also encompasses the development of novel traps for xeno-monitoring and control of onchocerciasis (river blindness) vectors. His groundbreaking contributions to Public Health Entomology significantly contribute to the ongoing global efforts to combat vector-borne diseases.

During the private dinner, Professor Adeleke shared preliminary results from his ongoing studies, emphasizing the integration of ethical imperatives and modern technology, such as machine learning and geostatistics, in predicting the habitat suitability of river blindness vectors.

These innovative approaches hold promise for revolutionizing the surveillance and management of black fly habitats, providing a potential breakthrough in the control of vector-borne diseases.

Osun State University, a grantee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, supports Professor Adeleke’s research endeavours. His leadership in pioneering innovative trap designs, including pheromone lures, and coordinating Nigeria-based modellers using advanced techniques demonstrates the university’s commitment to contributing to the elimination of river blindness in Nigeria.

In response to Professor Adeleke’s recognition, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, expressed immense pride for Osun State University. He highlighted that this acknowledgement reaffirms the institution’s dedication to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and impactful research on a global scale.

“The entire University community congratulates Professor Monsuru Adeleke on this well-deserved recognition and anticipates further groundbreaking contributions in the field of Public Health Entomology and Parasitology. His work exemplifies the calibre of research at Osun State University, and we take pride in being part of his journey towards advancing global health solutions,” Professor Adebooye added.

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