Real-Ento recently hosted an intensive one-week international training program titled, "Mosquito Laboratory Culturing, Bioassays, Trapping, and Identification" from 3-11 March 2026. The program welcomed trainees from Dibrugarh University, marking important step toward strengthening global collaboration in vector research and control.
Throughout the course, participants gained comprehensive, hands-on experience in mosquito laboratory techniques. This included colony establishment and maintenance, as well as specialized skills such as force mating. Trainees were also introduced to both morphological and molecular approaches for accurate mosquito identification which are essential tools for modern vector surveillance and research. Building on these foundations, the program explored a range of field and laboratory methodologies.
Participants learned to deploy host-seeking and oviposition traps to collect mosquitoes for further investigation. These collections were then used to assess insecticide resistance using standardized bioassays, including the widely adopted WHO bottle bioassay.
The training also emphasized behavioral studies under sub-lethal exposure conditions. Using advanced systems such as the Excito-Repellency Assay (ERA) and High-Throughput Screening System (HITSS), participants evaluated mosquito responses to repellents providing critical insights for vector control strategies.
Additionally, recent experience using AI powered mosquito trapping methods in the field briefly introduced for further collaboration potential.
These integrated training components are expected to directly support ongoing research and surveillance efforts in the participants' home region, contributing to more effective vector mosquito management.
Beyond technical capacity building, this program represents a milestone in international academic partnership. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been established between Dibrugarh University and Real-Ento, with support from the PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) initiative under the Department of Higher Education, Government of India. This agreement lays the foundation for sustained collaboration in research, training, and knowledge exchange between India and Thailand.
Years in the making, this initiative reflects Real-Ento's commitment to fostering long-term, transnational partnerships. More than a single training event, it stands as a model for building enduring research networks that address shared challenges in vector-borne disease management.