Dr Inaki Tirados

Biography

Inaki Tirados earned a degree in biology with a specialisation in microbiology in 1993 and his career has spanned over 30 years – beginning with NGOs and later transitioning to research institutes. Along the way, he complemented his experience with additional training, including a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from the University of Barcelona, an MSc in Applied Parasitology and Medical Entomology from the University of Liverpool/Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), and a PhD from University of Greenwich/Natural Resources Institute.

Throughout his career, Inaki has focused on developing and implementing vector control strategies, particularly against vector-borne neglected tropical diseases. This work has taken him across nearly half of the African continent and several South American countries, conducting field-based behavioural studies on mosquitoes, blackflies, and tsetse flies to identify and implement sustainable solutions for disease control. Inaki has contributed to mitigating the burden of tropical diseases such as malaria, onchocerciasis, and human African trypanosomiasis through vector control interventions.

Notable achievements included contributing to the successful elimination of onchocerciasis through vector control on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea (validated in 2025) and the development, testing, and large-scale implementation of Tiny Targets for the elimination of gambiense-HAT. His involvement in Tiny Targets began in 2007 with the development phase, followed by field trials in Uganda and Kenya (2011-2013), and later, its integration into national strategies across seven African countries. This work was instrumental in the World Health Organisations decision to include vector control interventions in its recommended strategies for gambiense-HAT elimination.

Research interests

Inaki’s research focuses on developing and implementing sustainable technologies to control vector-borne neglected tropical diseases in low- and middle-income countries, where resources are limited. Following a translational research framework, his group conducts field-based studies to assess vector behavioural responses and integrates the findings with vector management and One Health approaches to identify cost-effective control strategies. Before implementation, they conduct field trials to assess effectiveness of these strategies. Supported by a multidisciplinary partnership, his group use modelling to predict their impact on disease transmission, associated costs, and community perception and engagement. If proven viable, they progress to large-scale implementation of the assessed cost-effective strategies in the areas that need them most.

Teaching

Inaki is involved in teaching and supervising MSc and diploma students across all programs offered at LSTM. He is particularly interested in supervising PhD projects focused on translational research to develop and implement cost-effective, low-tech solutions for controlling vectors of neglected tropical diseases in low- and middle-income countries, with an emphasis on community perception and engagement.

Selected research publications

Development and pilot application of a point-of-need molecular xenomonitoring protocol for tsetse (Glossina sp.) in a low-resource setting – Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases – Published: 23rd March 2026

Entomological surveillance of onchocerciasis in Burkina Faso: Progress towards interrupting transmission in blackflies in the main river basins of the country – Journal: Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases – Published: 2nd May 2025

The cost of sleeping sickness vector control in Yasa Bonga, a health district in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. – Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases – Published: 21st November 2024

Insights into trypanosomiasis transmission: Age, infection rates, and bloodmeal analysis of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in N.W. Uganda – Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases – Published: 31st October 2024

Impact of a national tsetse control programme to eliminate Gambian sleeping sickness in Uganda: a spatiotemporal modelling study – Journal: BMJ Global Health – Published: 30th October 2024

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