Dr. Michael Coleman initially trained as a geneticist and is currently a Senior Lecturer in Medical Entomology in the Vector Biology Department.
With over twenty years-experience working on the control of vectors of human disease Mike’s group has a diverse portfolio of projects delivering new tools for improvement of vector control programmes, capacity strengthening and technical assistance. The team is predominantly based in Liverpool with field sites in Africa and India.
Mike’s main focus is on the translation of tools into operational programmes and strengthening operational research.
Current research
Decision Support Systems: Developing and implementing decision support systems that aggregate, analyse and map data for operational programmes is a key area of research for Mike. These systems have driven policy and vector control changes in several countries. Currently Mike is working closely with the African Indoor Residual Spray Project, Bioko Island Malaria Control Programme and India Visceral Leishmania Elimination Programme.
Health Management Systems have been developed to aggregate case data. The most successful of these being the DHIS2. Working in collaboration with the University of Oslo, Mike has been identifying the gaps between case data systems and operational control programme needs. Several projects are now underway to fill those gaps and increase data sharing across platforms.
Insecticide Resistance Management: Having worked closely with Zambia National Malaria Control Centre and partners to develop the first country wide insecticide resistance management plan, this area of operational research remains central to Mike’s group. Current projects include the development of a biomedical resource for insecticide resistance with the Malaria Atlas Project at Oxford University (MAP-IR).
Engaging Tools for Communication and Health (ETCH): This area of research focuses on serious gaming to address capacity strengthening and behavioural change to improve decisions that are made in a control programme.
DMC-MalVec: Combines the research elements diagnosis, management and communication to deliver new tools that will enhance vector surveillance and allow a
Quality Assurance of Insecticide: This project in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University is utilising novel technology to detect insecticides that have been sprayed onto a surface.
PhD students
Rinki Deb (Part-time) Implementation of new tools for the elimination of vector disease.
Past PhD students
Kayla Barnes. Investigating population structure and mechanisms driving pyrethroid resistances in Anopheles funestus reveals a selective sweep in southern Africa
Emmanuel Chanda. Optimising the impact of entomological interventions in Zambia’s malaria control programme.
Teaching
Currently, Mike teaches on a number of courses including the DTMH and MSc in Public Health at LSTM and the BSc programme in Tropical Biology at the University of Liverpool.
Mike is involved in the development of bespoke training courses including the Geographic Information for Vector Surveillance (GIVeS) and Insecticide Resistance and Management Modules, expanding LSTM teaching to capacity strengthening in-country and with partners.