Prof Lizette Koekemoer

Lizette Koekemoer is a South African medical entomologist internationally recognized for expertise in malaria vector biology and control. Affiliated with leading research institutions in South Africa, her work supports national and regional malaria elimination strategies. She has contributed extensively to understanding the ecology, genetics, and behavior of Anopheles mosquitoes, positioning her as a key figure in vector surveillance and resistance monitoring across sub-Saharan Africa.

Her publications highlight major contributions to insecticide resistance research, particularly in Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae complex species, integrating genomic, phenotypic, and geographical analyses. She has advanced knowledge on resistance markers, population structure, and adaptive evolution, while also exploring innovative control tools such as symbiont-based transmission blocking using Microsporidia MB and the behavioral effects of environmental factors on mosquito feeding.

Koekemoer’s research further spans vector ecology, host preference, climate interactions, and translational approaches including genome editing and antimalarial drug repositioning. This multidisciplinary portfolio demonstrates strengths in linking molecular science with operational vector control, generating evidence that informs policy, surveillance systems, and the development of next-generation malaria interventions.