Research Project: Evaluating Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits in Zambia

Overview

In collaboration with PATH, this project evaluated Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSBs) in a community randomized controlled trial in Zambia. The goal was to find out whether ATSBs could lower malaria in a setting with moderate, seasonal transmission.

Why This Matters

Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death in Zambia, even with widespread use of long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying. New vector control tools are needed. ATSBs are one such tool. They target mosquitoes during their natural sugar-feeding behavior.

Our Approach

From 2018 to 2024, Tulane's Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation (CAMRE) worked with PATH, Zambia's National Malaria Elimination Centre, and other partners on a large-scale cluster randomized trial in Western Province. It was part of a broader multi-country evidence effort funded by the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC).

• Co-led the design of the Zambia trial
• Developed the epidemiological and statistical analysis plan
• Worked with partners through implementation, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination
• Combined epidemiological, entomological, and economic methods to assess health and mosquito outcomes

Impact

The trial results were published in a thematic collection of Malaria Journal. They provide evidence to guide the future development and testing of new malaria vector control tools.

Key Achievements

• Produced high-quality evidence from large-scale cluster randomized trials
• Shared findings widely through international scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications
• Informed global vector control policy. As evaluated in these settings, ATSBs did not show enough public health benefit for the World Health Organization to recommend them as a malaria vector control intervention

Research Partnerships

Featured Publication

Ashton, R. A., McDermott, D. P., Kane, F., Sarrassat, S., Harris, A., Fornadel, C., et al. (2026). Outdoor attractive targeted sugar bait Phase III trials for malaria control in Kenya, Mali, and Zambia: An individual participant data meta-analysis. PLOS Global Public Health, 6(10), e0006513. View publication.