Professor Martin Donnelly

Biography

I trained at Girton College, University of Cambridge and LSTM. I then spent two years in the laboratory of Dr Tovi Lehmann at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, on an American Society of Microbiology Fellowship.

Research interests

I am an evolutionary geneticist studying medically important phenotypes in the insect vectors of malaria, Human African Trypanosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis. A major area of interest is the evolution of insecticide resistance in malaria mosquitoes. We use a variety of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches to identify and validate insecticide resistance associated loci. We then work with a network of partners to integrate these diagnostics into both malaria control programmes and randomized control trials to assess the epidemiological impacts of insecticide resistance. A key partnership is with the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where I hold an Honorary Faculty position.

Selected research publications

Genetic Surveillance Reveals Differential Evolutionary Dynamic of Anopheles gambiae Under Contrasting Insecticidal Tools Used in Malaria Control – Journal: Molecular Ecology – Published: 3rd March 2026

Mitochondrial genome analysis and molecular identification of two Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) clades from the Republic of Korea – Journal: Journal of Medical Entomology – Published: 22nd January 2026

Co-occurrence of native and invasive malaria vectors in anthropogenic habitats in Metehara, Ethiopia: Opportunities for urban malaria control – Journal: Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases – Published: 24th November 2025

Quantification of Anopheles daily sugar feeding rates in Siaya county, western Kenya using Attractive Sugar Baits – Journal: PLoS ONE – Published: 24th November 2025

Attractive targeted sugar baits for malaria control in western Kenya (ATSB-Kenya) – Effect of ATSBs on epidemiologic and entomologic indicators: A Phase III, open-label, cluster-randomised, controlled trial – Journal: PLOS Global Public Health – Published: 26th June 2025

View more publications