Early in the development of what is now Debug, our team began connecting with various organizations who specialize in the study and control of mosquitoes. The Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) stood out to us along with James Cook University (JCU). CSIRO is globally recognized for its expertise in the study of insects and control of invasive pests including mosquitoes, and JCU has world leading experience and facilities for understanding mosquito behaviour. As our project developed, our goals began to align with the knowledge and research infrastructure of CSIRO and its partners.

Today, I’m happy to announce that we have formed a research partnership with CSIRO and JCU. The focus of our work will be on field research and mosquito behaviour broadly and will be based primarily in northern Australia. Not only is it exciting for the Debug team to work with some of the most highly regarded research institutions in Australia, but it also brings back great memories for me personally: my first job at age 17 was as a research assistant at CSIRO, where I not only learned how to design and run experiments, but also how science with a mission could make an impact on the world.
Verily, CSIRO, and JCU staff are excited to be working together. Please be assured that Professor Scott Ritchie from JCU was not harmed in the taking of this photo.



Now, our three organizations have the shared goal of better understanding Aedes aegypti - the mosquito that spreads dengue, Zika, chikungunya and Yellow Fever. We’re hoping this knowledge will help us develop new strategies for fighting a species that is invasive to Australia and has a huge impact on human health globally. CSIRO’s knowledge of local communities and experience in the field in Australia is unparalleled, and we’re looking forward to working with the combined CSIRO and JCU teams to further develop and refine our tools and approach.

Check out CSIRO’s blog for more details, and stay tuned to our blog for updates on this research.

Nigel Snoad, Product Manager