IRES (Insect Rearing and Experimental Station)
Department of Zoology
Established in 2009 and housed within Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, the Insect Rearing and Experimental Station (IRES) is a specialized research institution dedicated to advancing entomological science with a focus on medically important vector species. With a core mission to enhance national capacity in vector research and control, IRES has emerged as a leading center for scientific innovation, technical training, and applied fieldwork in mosquito ecology and disease prevention.
Core Work and Capabilities
Supervised by Dr. Kabirul Bashar, a leading entomologist in the country with decades of experience in vector research, IRES is composed of a multidisciplinary team that includes three research associates, ten student researchers, and two field technicians. The institute maintains laboratory colonies of key vector species such as Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Phlebotomus argentipes (sand flies), which are used in both experimental studies and applied fieldwork. IRES has carried out major entomological surveillance, monitoring, and insecticide resistance testing projects at high-priority locations such as Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Daffodil International University, and the BGB Headquarters. The facility is equipped with advanced infrastructure for mosquito rearing, morphological identification, molecular diagnostics, and bioassays, enabling the team to deliver scientifically robust and policy-relevant outputs for vector control. Currently, IRES is developing novel integrated vector management tools that are both environmentally sustainable and technologically innovative, integrating cutting-edge autocidal mosquito traps and AI-powered surveillance systems.
Collaborations
National Collaborations
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS): IRES partners with DGHS to conduct vector surveillance, resistance testing, and implementation of control strategies in urban and semi-urban settings.
- Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC): Together with DNCC, IRES contributes entomological data and expert recommendations for municipal mosquito control programs.
- BRAC: In collaboration with BRAC, IRES supports public health campaigns by providing technical input and field surveillance support for integrated vector management.
- Genetica Industry Limited: The collaboration between IRES and Genetica Industry Limited centers on the formulation, laboratory testing, and field-level evaluation of insecticides for effective vector control. Together, IRES has conducted joint research aimed at developing novel insecticides specifically targeting mosquito vectors. As part of this partnership, imported insecticides have been rigorously tested to assess their efficacy under local environmental conditions. Through this ongoing collaboration, several mosquito control projects have been successfully implemented across various properties in Bangladesh, contributing to more targeted and evidence-based vector management strategies.
- THiNK Global Limited: IRES, in collaboration with THiNK Global Limited, co-developed innovative mosquito traps and plant-based attractants, contributing expertise in design optimization and field deployment. The product has achieved notable success and is now commercially used by BRAC, Cantonment areas, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, multiple City Corporations, and international markets.
- Islamic University, Kushtia & Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University: These academic partners provide additional research facilities and technical collaboration for entomological studies and training.
- Other Industry Collaborations:
ACI Limited, Johnson & Johnson, Asiatic Society, Earth Limited, Modina Tech, Genius IT – Worked on various mosquito control solutions, surveillance technologies, and insecticide efficacy testing.
International Collaborations
- St. Tammany Parish Mosquito Abatement District, USA: A technical collaboration that allows the exchange of surveillance protocols, trap testing techniques, and vector control strategies.
- Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA): IRES works with NEA on mosquito control strategies, including Wolbachia-based vector suppression and technological integration.
- University of Mara, Malaysia: This partnership supports joint research in mosquito ecology and vector control innovations, including knowledge sharing on regional vector dynamics and novel intervention models.
