Oxitec People: Eileen Jeffrey, Field Operations Manager, Panama

Oxitec People: Eileen Jeffrey, Field Operations Manager, Panama

Can you tell us about your role at Oxitec and what it entails?

I am responsible for coordinating and executing field and laboratory experiments designed to better our understanding of Anopheles albimanus, which is the primary vector of malaria in Panama. To achieve this, a large part of my day-to-day consists of working with our global team and supporting my team here in Panama so that they have the tools and training they need to help us reach our goals.

What motivated you to join Oxitec’s mission?

During my undergraduate in microbiology, I became fascinated with complex systems of disease transmission. It blows my mind that we (as a species) were able to figure out that insects can be vectors of disease, and all the details that regulate transmission. In my view, controlling disease transmission is on par with harnessing fire or inventing the wheel.        

What do you enjoy about your role?

I really enjoy communicating with communities about our work. People really light up when we tell them what we are working on, immediately want to share their own experiences with malaria and express their support for our mission to provide an effective alternative to chemical insecticides.

Do you have a message you’d like to share for World Malaria Day?

Donating to a foundation dedicated to malaria prevention and control is, in fact, the most cost-effective way to help your fellow man. We lose well over half a million people to malaria each year- most of whom are children - despite this being a preventable disease. If you want to maximize your impact in the world, please consider setting up a monthly donation to a malaria foundation.