Indoor group portrait: ~36 diverse adults seated and standing before arched windows
UCMI Annual Meeting attendees
Standing: Megan Siefker, Ava Pilon, Guillermo Garcia, Peter Billingsley, Molly Matney, Ben Zeissner, Kate Martin, Marc Crepeau, Gurleen Sangha, Anton Cornel, Yuemei Dong, Christine Coleman, Brett Morgan, Lei Yang, Chris Somerville, Alan Juache, Ankush Auradkar, Claire Egan, Heather Youngs, Shreena Pradhan, Jenna Sternberg, Hester Weaving, Isabel Kim, Brian Leetakubuulidde
Sitting/kneeling: Ana Kormos, Greg Lanzaro, Tony James, Ethan Bier, George Dimopoulos, Danspaid Mabuka

2026 UCMI Annual Meeting

  • by Christine Coleman

The project’s Annual Meeting was held last Friday at Hotel Winters, hosted by the Vector Genetics lab at University of California, Davis, marking the first time the meeting has been hosted by UC Davis. Principal investigators from partner institutions—including Greg Lanzaro (UC Davis), Anthony James (UC Irvine), Ethan Bier (UC San Diego), and George Dimopoulos (Johns Hopkins University)—provided updates on their research and ongoing project activities. Additional presentations included an overview from Guillermo Garcia (MCD Global Health) on recent program progress in Equatorial Guinea, as well as a recorded address from His Excellency the Minister of Health, Social Welfare and Health Infrastructure of Equatorial Guinea outlining national priorities for malaria elimination. The meeting also featured presentations from postdoctoral scholars and research staff across participating institutions. The meeting included a brief recognition of Anthony James on the occasion of his retirement, honoring his leadership in establishing the UCMI project.

The day prior, representatives from Coefficient Giving and collaborators from MCD Global Health visited UC Davis for a tour of the lab and insectary facilities and attended a group dinner. The meeting provided an opportunity to share progress across sites and continue coordination on project goals. We are grateful to all who participated and contributed to a productive and engaging meeting, and we thank our funders for their continued support—we look forward to the next phase of this work.

See more photos from the event here

Media Resources

Research team in white lab coats standing in a bright laboratory
Presenter at podium speaking to seated audience with projected slide on screen
Five presenters in business attire at a podium in a conference room
Bald videographer filming with professional camera and monitor in a warm, chandelier-lit room.