CREC/LSHTM

What CREC/LSHTM does

CREC/LSHTM is a nonprofit, African-led infectious disease research institution headquartered in Cotonou, Benin. Founded in 2003 through a collaboration between the Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the organization focuses on malaria vector control, genomics, vector biology, implementation research, and data science. It serves the West African public health research ecosystem and global academic collaborators, with a stated employee count of 51–100.

The institution is currently undergoing a significant institutional transition, rebranding from CREC-LSHTM to AIRID (African Institute for Research in Infectious Diseases) and broadening its scope beyond malaria into broader infectious disease research. As part of this transition, the legacy CREC-LSHTM website is being closed. The organization has also developed GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) testing services, indicating regulated laboratory service capabilities layered on top of its core research mandate.

As a nonprofit, CREC/LSHTM operates on a grant-funded revenue model typical of academic research institutions, with funding derived from institutional donors, research grants, and academic partnerships anchored by the LSHTM affiliation. There is no disclosed commercial product line or proprietary technology platform; the institution's value proposition rests on research output, scientific publications, field expertise in West African vector biology, and access to unique entomological and genomic datasets. The transition to AIRID represents a strategic effort to reposition the institution for a broader infectious disease mandate and potentially new funding sources.

Name

CREC/LSHTM

Legal name

African Institute for Research in Infectious Diseases (AIRID)

Website

https://crec-lshtm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CREC/LSHTM is a nonprofit, African-led infectious disease research institute in Cotonou, Benin, founded in 2003 as a partnership with LSHTM. It focuses on malaria vector control, genomics, vector biology, and implementation research, and is transitioning to AIRID to broaden its infectious disease mandate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Central Laboratory & Clinical Trial Testing CROs (HLAGAAAE)

Keywords

• Infectious disease research
• Malaria vector control
• Genomics research
• Implementation science
• Scientific capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Cotonou, Litoral

HQ country

Benin

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Core offering

CREC/LSHTM is a nonprofit, African-led research collaboration advancing malaria vector control research and scientific capacity in Benin and across Africa. Its work spans infectious diseases, genomics, vector biology, data science, and implementation research, with GLP testing services available to partners and collaborators.

Product overview

CREC-LSHTM (African Institute for Research in Infectious Diseases, AIRID) is a nonprofit African-led research institution that does not offer commercial technology products or services. It focuses on advancing infectious disease research, particularly malaria vector control, scientific capacity building, genomics, vector biology, data science, and implementation research in Benin and across Africa. The website represents a collaborative research program between CREC and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) that is transitioning to the independent AIRID institution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• PATH: Global health nonprofit working extensively on malaria and infectious diseases across Africa, including implementation research and laboratory capacity building. Comparable in mission and African footprint but operates globally with a much larger budget.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH): Large Swiss-based institute with extensive Africa operations covering malaria, vector control, and laboratory sciences. Comparable in disease focus and methodological stack but operates at materially greater scale across multiple African countries.

Regional players

• African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC): African-led research nonprofit headquartered in Kenya conducting population health and implementation research across Africa. Comparable in nonprofit governance model and African-led health research mandate, though with a broader public-health rather than vector-biology focus.

Direct peers

• Ifakara Health Institute: Tanzania-based African-led research institute focused on malaria vector control, infectious diseases, and health systems research. Closely comparable in thematic focus (malaria, vector biology) and African-led nonprofit governance structure.
• MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM: West African infectious disease research unit also historically affiliated with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Directly comparable in disease focus (malaria, vector control), LSHTM lineage, and African-led research mandate.
• Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI): Kenya's principal national research institute with a similar mandate in infectious disease, vector biology, and laboratory testing across East Africa. Comparable as an African government-affiliated, multi-disciplinary biomedical research institution of similar scale and scope.
• Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme: Malawi-based clinical research programme affiliated with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Comparable as an African infectious disease research institution of similar scale, with international academic partnership and laboratory capacity.
• Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research: University of Ghana-based biomedical research institute with similar infectious disease and genomic research mandate. Comparable as a West African research institution of equivalent scale, performing laboratory testing and infectious disease research.
• Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire (CERMES): Niger-based research institute focused on infectious diseases, particularly meningitis, malaria, and other endemic pathogens. Comparable as a francophone West African research institution with similar disease focus and laboratory testing capability.

Emerging players

• Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi): Nonprofit R&D organization focused on neglected infectious diseases, with clinical research operations in Africa. Comparable as a research-driven nonprofit addressing African disease burden, though primarily drug-development focused rather than vector control.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crec-lshtm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CREC/LSHTM