The Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology at Polo GGB, located in Terni, is an advanced facility that allows the study of mosquito populations in a confined environment.
The Terni laboratories feature a technologically advanced infrastructure with climatic chambers and large cages (up to 9 m3) that faithfully reproduce the environmental conditions of tropical regions in terms of temperature, humidity, and light intensity. This setup recreates an ecosystem very similar to the natural one, suitable for ecological studies on Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes.
The laboratory is certified BSL2/ACL2 (Biosafety Level 2 and Arthropod Containment Level 2) and is authorized by the Ministry of Health for biocontainment and procedural safety measures. It operates in compliance with the EN ISO 9001:2015 certification system.
The laboratory allows the breeding and study of genetically modified mosquito populations in a confined environment to meet the experimental needs of ecological and genetic studies under a wide range of environmental conditions.
The Genetics and Ecology Laboratory is involved in innovative research projects aimed at developing genetic systems for the control of disease-vector insects, particularly malaria, using Gene Drive technology. Researchers at Polo GGB develop and study genetically modified mosquitoes with the goal of malaria control, collaborating with prestigious research institutions such as Imperial College London and Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard, Boston) to advance their research. For more information, visit the research projects page.
