Target Malaria
Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium developing gene drive and other genetic technologies to reduce malaria-transmitting mosquito populations in sub-Saharan Africa, serving African governments, health ministries, and research institutions with publicly shared research outputs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Target Malaria does
Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium hosted by Imperial College London that develops genetic technologies to reduce populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa. Its core technology is gene drive, applied through a staged development pathway progressing from sterile male mosquitoes to male bias mosquitoes to full gene drive approaches, with a Sex Distorter Male Drive technology added in 2026. Underlying capabilities include microinjection of gene drive DNA into mosquito embryos, fluorescence screening of transgenic larvae, molecular biology and genome sequencing, mathematical modelling, and field entomology conducted at the Crisanti Lab and partner insectaries.
The consortium serves African governments, health ministries, research institutions (notably the Uganda Virus Research Institute), and affected communities in malaria-endemic regions, working alongside global health bodies such as the RBM Partnership To End Malaria, AUDA-NEPAD, PAMCA, and the Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaign. It operates laboratories and insectaries in the UK, USA, Italy, Uganda, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and previously Mali, with all gene drive studies currently confined to highly controlled facilities in Europe and the United States. Outputs include research publications, educational tools (Target Malaria: The Game, Mozzie Drive card game, Swarm sonification, Mosquito Minutes), and stakeholder engagement programs targeting communities, policymakers, and the general public.
Target Malaria has no commercial revenue model. It is funded primarily by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a research consortium, with all technologies and findings intended to be shared publicly rather than commercialized. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, emphasizing stakeholder trust-building, regulatory affairs, and public education over traditional sales. Its GTM encompasses World Malaria Day campaigns, science festivals, professional conferences, and direct engagement with African communities and governments. The consortium's value proposition centers on gene drive as a complementary tool to existing malaria prevention methods such as bednets, insecticides, and antimalarial drugs.
Target Malaria firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Target Malaria
- Legal name
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
- Website
- https://targetmalaria.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium developing gene drive and other genetic technologies to reduce malaria-transmitting mosquito populations in sub-Saharan Africa, serving African governments, health ministries, and research institutions with publicly shared research outputs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Target Malaria industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Genetic Biocontrol Research (Malaria Vector Control)
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) (HLAJAOAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disease-Specific Global Programs (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAKAF), Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN), Communicable Disease Prevention & Control (HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, NTDs) (BPADAIAA), Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE)
Keywords
Where Target Malaria is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Target Malaria business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Research Funding and Grants: Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium funded primarily by the Gates Foundation and other international donors. The organization does not generate commercial revenue but relies on research grants and philanthropic funding to support its mission of developing genetic technologies for malaria control.
- Non-Profit Research Consortium Model: As a not-for-profit research consortium, Target Malaria aims to develop and share new, cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission. All research outputs are intended to be shared publicly rather than commercialized.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels14 records
Target Malaria product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium that develops and shares genetic technologies — including sterile male, male bias, and gene drive mosquitoes — designed to reduce populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa. Its core deliverable is the staged gene drive development pathway and the underlying laboratory and field science, supported by a parallel set of free educational and engagement tools (an educational video game, a card game, and audio sonification of research data) used to build stakeholder and community understanding.
Product overview
Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium developing genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. The organization offers educational products including Target Malaria: The Game (an educational video game), Mozzie Drive (a card game), and Swarm (a sonification of research data). Their core research focuses on gene drive technology, including sterile male mosquitoes, male bias mosquitoes, and gene drive approaches targeting female fertility. All current studies remain confined to highly controlled laboratories in Europe and the United States with no gene drive mosquitoes present in Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Target Malaria: The Game A free educational video game that simulates the experience of a Target Malaria lab researcher developing genetically modified mosquitoes, covering research into mosquitoes and malaria, design of gene drive mosquitoes, rearing of mosquito colonies, and laboratory experiments including microinjection and fluorescence screening. Built in Unreal Engine and intended for public engagement, school audiences, and science festival visitors in English- and French-speaking markets.
- Mozzie Drive A free physical card game designed to educate players about mosquito genetics and gene drive technology in an engaging, interactive format. Distributed via the Target Malaria website and at in-person events.
- Swarm An audio sonification of the 2016 cage trials conducted by Imperial College London, allowing users to experience Target Malaria's scientific data on gene drive mosquito experiments through sound.
- Gene Drive Technology Research Program Not-for-profit research consortium program delivering a staged development pathway of genetic biocontrol technologies for malaria vector control — including sterile male mosquitoes, male bias mosquitoes, and gene drive mosquitoes (male bias and female fertility, plus the 2026 Sex Distorter Male Drive extension). All current studies remain confined to highly controlled laboratories in Europe and the United States, with outputs intended to be shared with public health authorities and research partners for eventual deployment in sub-Saharan Africa.
Quantifiable outcome
- Gene drive technology in lab trials has shown potential for mosquito population wipeout in a few generations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Target Malaria
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Target Malaria technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Target Malaria partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- Liverpool School of Tropical MedicinemajorLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine joined the Target Malaria Consortium in 2026, expanding the consortium's research capabilities and expertise in tropical disease research.
- 10,000 Black Interns FoundationminorTarget Malaria has worked with 10,000 Black Interns since 2023 to offer internship opportunities. Program graduates include Lord Cobbinah, Chloe Cole, Stella Attah, Aminah Alhamdu, Zainab Shire, Zion Raeburn, and Lorraine Gibson.
- Imperial College LondoncoreImperial College London hosts the Crisanti Lab and serves as the data controller for Target Malaria. Core research including gene drive development, microinjection techniques, and mathematical modelling is conducted at Imperial facilities.
- RBM Partnership To End MalariamajorTarget Malaria is a member of RBM Partnership To End Malaria, participating in Vector Control Working Group meetings and collaborating on global malaria elimination efforts.
- AUDA-NEPADmajorAUDA-NEPAD hosts strategic workshops on innovative technologies against malaria and visited Target Malaria Uganda at UVRI. They launched the second edition of the APET report on gene drives for malaria control and elimination.
- Malaria ConsortiumminorMalaria Consortium visited Target Malaria at Imperial College London, indicating collaboration and knowledge sharing between organizations working on malaria control.
- Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)coreTarget Malaria Uganda operates in partnership with UVRI. UVRI celebrated its 90th anniversary with Target Malaria participating in the launch event. UVRI leads in mosquito research and hosts Target Malaria's community advisory board.
- Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaignmajorTarget Malaria is a partner in the Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaign, contributing to pan-African efforts to end malaria.
- Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium (UBBC)minorTarget Malaria Uganda strengthened collaboration with UBBC for stakeholder engagement on gene drive research.
- Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA)minorTarget Malaria participates in PAMCA conferences and Ghana hosted the inaugural PAMCA-Ghana Conference in Accra championing vector control efforts.
- CDC FoundationminorTarget Malaria has team members working at the CDC Foundation for the project, facilitating US-based collaboration.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Target Malaria competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PATH: PATH is a large global health non-profit that develops and delivers a wide portfolio of health technologies, including malaria and vector control programs (e.g., PATH Malaria Control). Comparable to Target Malaria as a non-profit R&D partner, with similar donor base and stakeholder engagement, but operating at a broader portfolio and larger scale.
- Wellcome Trust: Wellcome is a major global health philanthropic funder supporting malaria and vector control research. Comparable to Target Malaria as a key potential funder and ecosystem actor shaping the funding landscape for malaria R&D, though operating as a grantmaker rather than a research consortium.
Direct peers
- Wolbaki Biotech: Wolbaki develops Wolbachia-based mosquito biocontrol technologies targeting Aedes and Anopheles. It is comparable to Target Malaria as a developer of novel genetic/microbiome-based vector control, offering a parallel non-insecticide pathway for suppressing malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.
- Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC): IVCC is a Product Development Partnership that develops and delivers new insecticides and vector control tools for malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Like Target Malaria, it is a Gates-funded, partnership-based R&D organization working on complementary tools to address the limitations of current vector control.
- Imperial College London Crisanti Lab: The Crisanti Lab at Imperial College London is the technical engine behind Target Malaria's gene drive R&D, including microinjection, fluorescence screening, and mathematical modelling. It is comparable as the underlying research group generating Target Malaria's core IP and capabilities.
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV): MMV is a leading Product Development Partnership focused on discovering, developing, and delivering new antimalarial drugs. It is structurally comparable to Target Malaria as a malaria-focused PDP, sharing funder relationships (incl. Gates Foundation), consortium model, and mission to complement existing malaria tools with new interventions.
- Oxitec: Oxitec develops genetically modified mosquitoes for vector control, including Oxitec Friendly™ Aedes and Anopheles mosquito platforms. It is the closest direct peer to Target Malaria on the technology side, with field deployments in multiple countries; key difference is Oxitec's commercial model and Aedes focus versus Target Malaria's non-profit, Africa-focused Anopheles/gene drive work.
- World Mosquito Program (Monash University): The World Mosquito Program develops and deploys Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to suppress dengue, Zika, and other mosquito-borne diseases. Like Target Malaria, it is a non-profit/affiliated research organization advancing genetic/microbiome vector control at scale, providing a useful benchmark on community engagement and regulatory pathways.
Emerging players
- GBIRd (Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents): GBIRd is a research partnership evaluating gene drive technology for controlling invasive rodent populations, with similar regulatory, ethical, and stakeholder engagement challenges as Target Malaria. Comparable as a peer in the broader genetic biocontrol field facing analogous community, regulatory, and funding hurdles.
Regional players
- Africa CDC: Africa CDC is the African Union's continental public health agency, coordinating disease control including malaria. It is comparable to Target Malaria as a key African institution that sets the policy and regulatory environment for malaria and emerging health technologies on the continent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Target Malaria social profiles
Digital presenceTarget Malaria financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Target Malaria leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Target Malaria funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Target Malaria M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Target Malaria
What does Target Malaria do?
Target Malaria is a not-for-profit research consortium that develops and shares genetic technologies — including sterile male, male bias, and gene drive mosquitoes — designed to reduce populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in sub-Saharan Africa. Its core deliverable is the staged gene drive development pathway and the underlying laboratory and field science, supported by a parallel set of free educational and engagement tools (an educational video game, a card game, and audio sonification of research data) used to build stakeholder and community understanding.
Is Target Malaria a public or private company?
Target Malaria is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Target Malaria founded?
Target Malaria was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Target Malaria based?
Target Malaria is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Target Malaria make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Research Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are non-Profit Research Consortium Model.
Who are Target Malaria's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PATH and Wellcome Trust. Direct peers are Wolbaki Biotech, Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), Imperial College London Crisanti Lab, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Oxitec and World Mosquito Program (Monash University). GBIRd (Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents) is listed as an emerging player. Africa CDC is listed as a regional player.
Does Target Malaria have an API?
No public API is recorded for Target Malaria.
What industry is Target Malaria in?
Target Malaria's product category is Genetic Biocontrol Research (Malaria Vector Control). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAOAM, Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs), with a secondary code of HLAJAKAF, Disease-Specific Global Programs (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.