Vector Genetics Laboratory

March 2026 - Initial field site visit and collections in Annobón

Photo Credit: Mark Scott Unger

Photo Credit: Dulcinea Productions for UCMI

Melina Campos and Anton Cornel collecting larvae by the side of the road in Príncipe

Photo Credit: Dulcinea Productions for UCMI

The VECTOR GENETICS LABORATORY at UC Davis is dedicated to advancing research and training in population and molecular genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics of insect vectors that transmit human and animal diseases.

Our mission is to expand scientific knowledge that can be applied to improving vector control strategies, while also addressing fundamental questions in evolutionary genetics.

Currently, our major research focus is on the vectors of malaria in Africa, though we pursue a wide range of projects across vector biology and genetics.

The laboratory is led by Gregory Lanzaro, a professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Anton Cornel a professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology.

Undergraduate Research Program

The Vector Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at UC Davis carries out research and training in the areas of population and molecular genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics of insect vectors of human and animal disease. We have developed a program aimed at expanding knowledge that may be applied to improving control of vectorborne diseases, and that addresses problems of interest in the field of evolutionary genetics. The laboratory is directed by Dr. Gregory C. Lanzaro in the Dept. of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology of the School of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr.

Latest Photos

São Tomé and Príncipe 2026

VGL Events & Activities

Recent News

New VGL Publication

by Christine Coleman
October 26, 2023

Publications

A UCMI risk assessment paper was published in Frontiers today. This paper describes the preliminary independent risk assessment that we participated in in 2020 to evaluate our GEM. Congrats to all authors.

Read the paper here.

Three mosquitoes covered in fluorescent dust are in a Petri dish under microscope lens with a black light illuminating them.

New VGL Press

by Christine Coleman
September 29, 2023

Press

The VGL was featured in a New York Times article by Stephanie Nolan who joined the team on their latest Mark-Release-Recapture trip in Príncipe. Read the article here.

VGL at PAMCA

by Christine Coleman
August 29, 2023

Greg, Ana, and Danspaid will be attending the 2023 PAMCA conference in September. Greg and Danspaid will be presenting about UCMI work and Ana will host a symposium titled "Field Trials of Malaria Vectors
Engineered with Gene-Drive: If Not Now, When?" Greg will also teach at the Gene Drive Short Course pre-conference event. Greg, Ana and Danspaid will be joined at the conference by UCMI contractors Lodney Nazaré and Adionilde Pires.

View all news articles