Dr Sylvester Coleman

Biography

Sylvester Coleman has over 15 years of extensive on-the-ground experience leading entomological surveillance activities in Ghana and Malawi, two vastly different ecological and cultural settings.

Currently Sylvester is leading investigations into mosquito population dynamics and behaviour within an emerging agricultural landscape in southern Malawi for the National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded Shire Valley Vector Control Project. He is an advocate for a One Health strategy to reduce vector-borne disease and recently secured an award to pilot the use of ivermectin in livestock for controlling zoophilic malaria vectors and ectoparasites in cattle.

Research interests

Sylvester’s research to date has focused on improving the efficacy of vector control interventions through robust surveillance. He is developing expertise leading operational research into the impacts of anthropogenic changes on mosquito borne disease transmission dynamics and vector control efficacy, to inform the development of more effective and sustainable vector control strategies.

Selected research publications

Reductions in malaria cases after deployment of dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated nets in Ghana—a Bayesian interrupted time series analysis – Journal: International Journal of Epidemiology – Published: 5th May 2026

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Arboviruses at a Human-Wildlife Interface: A Cross-Sectional Study in and Around Mole National Park, Ghana – Journal: Inquiry (United States) – Published: 20th April 2026

Malaria incidence rose following the introduction of neonicotinoid-based IRS in selected districts in northern Ghana An observational analysis – Journal: PLOS Global Public Health – Published: 17th April 2026

Exploring the importance and preference of sugar feeding behaviour of malaria vectors in sugar plantations of southern Malawi – Journal: PLoS ONE – Published: 6th March 2026

Repeated biannual cross-sectional surveys in primary schools set baseline seasonal and spatial surveillance for malaria and schistosomiasis in the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP), Malawi – Journal: Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases – Published: 9th January 2026

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