Dr Fabricio Martins

Biography

Dr. Fabricio Martins is a tropical medicine researcher with a background in biology, vector control, and innovation. He earned his BSc in Biology from Paraíba State University, Brazil, in 2002, followed by an MSc in Animal Biology from the Federal University of Pernambuco in 2006. In 2015, he completed his PhD in Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool / Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).

Dr. Martins was a Senior Lecturer at Paraíba State University from 2006 to 2018, where he taught genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, and evolution. In 2018, he joined LSTM as an associate researcher under a Wellcome Trust International Training Fellowship. Currently, he is a postdoctoral researcher at LSTM, focusing on translating research into innovative solutions and commercialisation.

Research interests

Dr. Martins’ research focuses on vector biology, insecticide resistance, and public health. His work investigates the evolutionary dynamics of resistance in mosquito populations, particularly in response to household insecticides. He is particularly interested in how aerosolised and volatile compounds influence resistance mechanisms in aedes aegypti, a key vector of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses.

His current research explores the public health implications of unregulated insecticide use worldwide. By understanding how domestic insecticide exposure drives resistance evolution, he aims to inform policy and improve mosquito control strategies. His broader interests include mosquito behavior, vector ecology, and innovative approaches to integrated pest management. Through his research, he aims to bridge the gap between entomology, epidemiology, and public health, thereby contributing to sustainable solutions for controlling vector-borne diseases.

Teaching

Dr. Martins has extensive teaching experience in genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, and evolutionary biology. As a Senior Lecturer at Paraíba State University (2006-2018), he played a key role in developing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

He also mentored numerous students in laboratory-based research, guiding projects on mosquito genetics and vector control strategies in Brazil, heading the laboratory of medical entomology and molecular biology.

Selected research publications

Does use of domestic insecticides undermine public health control strategies? – Journal: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas – Published: 29th March 2025

Improving the efficiency of aerosolized insecticide testing against mosquitoes – Journal: Scientific Reports – Published: 18th April 2023

Transcriptomic analysis of insecticide resistance in the lymphatic filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus. – Journal: Scientific Reports – Published: 6th August 2019

Development and application of a tri-allelic PCR assay for screening Vgsc-L1014F kdr mutations associated with pyrethroid and organochlorine resistance in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. – Journal: Parasites and Vectors – Published: 14th May 2019

Local selection in the presence of high levels of gene flow: Evidence of heterogeneous insecticide selection pressure across Ugandan Culex quinquefasciatus populations – Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases – Published: 3rd October 2017

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