ProfessorDelenasaw Yewhalaw

Professor Delenasaw Yewhalaw is a professor of Medical Entomology at the School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, and Founding Director of Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC) at Jimma University, Ethiopia. Apart from teaching, he has been highly engaged in research and community service. His research to date has been highly relevant to health policy, practice and programs. His work mainly focuses on malaria and other vector-borne infectious diseases epidemiology, surveillance and control.

Overall, he authored and co-authored 270 peer-reviewed articles, 2 book chapters (peer reviewed) and 4 policy briefs. He has extensive experience in malaria epidemiology, vector biology, ecology and control, including several multidisciplinary research projects. He mentored over 86 local and international MSc students and 23 PhD students. 

He has been awarded with 33 research and innovation grants (18 active and 15 completed) and several of them are prestigious research grants from NIH, Wellcome Trust, European Union Horizon 2020, WHO/TDR, Grand Challenge Canada, National Environmental Research Council, Gates Foundation and others

He has conducted extensive research, including molecular epidemiology of malaria which include, Duffy antigens, insecticide resistance status of malaria vectors in Ethiopia and its impact on the bio-efficacy of current malaria control interventions. For example, He described the first evidence of the occurrence of kdr mutations in mosquitoes from Ethiopia and later the role of metabolic resistance in addition to kdr. Findings from this research led to the development of an insecticide resistance management strategy (IRM) by the Ethiopian National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP). Together with other collaborators, He contributed to the development of an automated diagnostic tool (LabDisck) to improve vector control intervention in sub-Saharan Africa. With his team he team has also developed cost-effective and user-friendly vector surveillance tools. 

He initiated, co-developed curriculum and co-launched distance education program Jimma University to reach those who do not have an opportunity to pursue their education in the regular program due to physical proximity or for various reseans.

He has initiated and developed the following curricula to produce high level professionals in the field of tropical and infectious diseases:

·        Curriculum for PhD program in Tropical and Infectious Diseases

·        Curriculum for MSc program in Bioinformatics

·        Curriculum for MSc program in Public Health Entomology & Vector Control

Overall, he mentored over 86 local and international MSc students and 17 PhD students.

He has been recognized with Medal and Certificate by Jimma University as an outstanding researcher at the Faculty of Health Sciences in 2021. He is also fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (EAS) as of December 2020 and received a certificate of recognition as a nominee for ASTMH Distinguished International Fellow in 2021. He has been awarded with a Trophy and Certificate for establishing and leading Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center by Jimma University. He has been awarded with Gold Medal and Certificate by Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) for his outstanding contribution in impactful research on public health in Ethiopia and beyond in 2025.