The Society for the Promotion of Mosquito Control (GFS) is a non-profit organization based in Speyer, Germany. Since its founding in 1989, it has been dedicated to the scientific research and control of mosquitoes as both disease vectors and nuisance pests.
The work of GFS is grounded in solid scientific research in the field of dipterology. The goal is to precisely study mosquitoes as disease vectors, analyze their life cycles, and develop effective, sustainable control strategies based on these insights. Research always serves a clear purpose: practical solutions for real-world challenges.
A core principle of GFS is the responsible management of ecological systems. Rather than relying on broad, one-size-fits-all measures, the organization focuses on targeted, environmentally responsible mosquito control methods that take into account the needs of people, wildlife, and nature alike. Every measure is scientifically evaluated and adapted to local conditions.
Findings from research and development are applied in both national and international projects. Through close collaboration with authorities, scientific institutions, and local partners, GFS ensures that knowledge is not only generated but effectively implemented. Continuous exchange strengthens sustainable structures on the ground and supports long-term success.
For over three decades, GFS has stood for scientifically grounded, non-profit work in the field of mosquito control. Its structure, research activities, and international collaborations are closely interconnected.
1989 as a non-profit organization promoting scientific research
Georg-Peter-Süß-Str. 3
67346 Speyer, Rhineland-Palatinate
Germany
Effective and environmentally responsible mosquito control – addressing both nuisance and vector species
Institute of Dipterology (IfD)
Alter Postweg 1
67346 Speyer, Rhineland-Palatinate
Germany
National and international projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America
Public authorities, research institutions, international partners, municipalities, and universities
The Society for the Promotion of Mosquito Control (GFS) has undergone continuous development, shaped by scientific curiosity, practical responsibility, and international collaboration. Since its founding, GFS has evolved into a recognized expert institution in the field of vector control.
The Institute of Dipterology (IfD) is the scientific research unit of the Society for the Promotion of Mosquito Control (GFS). It is dedicated to the comprehensive study of mosquitoes and other dipteran species, with a particular focus on their role as disease vectors.
As an integral part of GFS, the IfD connects fundamental research with applied projects. Its scientific findings form the basis for sustainable control strategies, international research collaborations, and practice-oriented consulting.
The IfD studies life cycles, distribution patterns, and the ecological dynamics of mosquito populations. These insights are essential for developing targeted and effective vector control measures.
Another key focus is the analysis of mosquitoes as carriers of pathogens. The goal is to identify risks at an early stage and develop science-based strategies for prevention and containment.
In addition to fundamental research, the IfD develops and evaluates practical control methods. Environmental responsibility, effectiveness, and sustainability are at the core of all research and development activities.
The Society for the Promotion of Mosquito Control (GFS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting people, the environment, and public health. Its work focuses on addressing the impact of mosquitoes on quality of life, infrastructure, and disease prevention. GFS serves as a connecting platform between science, public authorities, and practical implementation.
Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Norbert Becker has served as Scientific Director of GFS/IfD since its founding in 1989 and is a lecturer in medical entomology and ecology at Heidelberg University. For decades, he led mosquito control efforts in the Upper Rhine region (KABS) and advises the World Health Organization (WHO/TDR) on vector control in many tropical and subtropical countries. He is also a founding member of the European Mosquito Control Association (EMCA), established in 2000 in Speyer.
Achim Kaiser (Dipl.-Biologist) is Deputy Scientific Director of GFS/IfD and has been working for over three decades as an internationally active entomologist with the Municipal Action Group for Mosquito Control (KABS). His areas of expertise include systematics, biology, and mosquito control. He has conducted extensive research work in Latin America and Africa.
Professor Dr. Dr. Rainer Sauerborn headed the Institute of Global Health at Heidelberg University Hospital from 1997 to 2016. He has held visiting professorships at Umeå University in Sweden and at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From 1978 to 1982, he worked as a physician at a hospital in Nouna, Burkina Faso, and has since been involved in numerous research projects in the country. His research focuses on the health impacts of climate change. He was also a contributing author to the IPCC report in 2014.
Professor Dr. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit has led the WHO Collaborating Centre for Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg since 2010. His work focuses on viruses transmitted by mosquitoes and other blood-feeding arthropods (arboviruses). Since 2018, he has held a professorship in arbovirology at the University of Hamburg and has authored or co-authored more than 250 scientific publications.
Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Storch (Emeritus) served as a full professor at Heidelberg University from 1979 until his retirement in 2009. He also held guest lectureships in Southeast Asia and conducted numerous research stays abroad, particularly in the USA, Australia, and Antarctica. He is the author of many academic and teaching textbooks, several of which are considered standard works in zoological studies.
Professor em. Dr. Peter Lüthy conducted research on Bacillus thuringiensis at the Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zurich. He taught in the fields of microbial pest control and applied microbiology. For many years, he chaired the WHO/TDR Steering Committee for Vector Biology and Control (VBC), overseeing and guiding projects on the control of vectors of tropical diseases. Since the 1980s, he has been responsible for large-scale floodwater mosquito control programs in Switzerland.
Professor Dr. Ashwani Kumar is Vice Chancellor of the Saveetha Institute for Medical and Technical Sciences at Saveetha University. He previously served for many years as Director of the ICMR Vector Control Research Centre (VCRC) in Puducherry, India, and brings over 40 years of experience in the research and control of vector-borne diseases. He is an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), has published more than 200 scientific papers, and has led numerous international projects. He also served as founding president of the Society for Vector Ecology (USA) in India.
Professor Dr. Paulo Pimenta is a renowned senior researcher at the René Rachou Institute (Fiocruz Minas) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where he leads the Laboratory of Medical Entomology. His research focuses on the interaction between pathogens and insects, particularly in tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, and Zika virus. With over 280 publications, he is one of the leading experts in vector biology and infectious disease transmission in Brazil. He serves as an advisor to the WHO and has been a visiting professor at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Notre Dame (USA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA), and Heidelberg University. He is also a founding member of the Latin American Society for Vector Ecology (SOVE).
Dr. Major Dhillon served for many decades as Director of the Northwest Mosquito & Vector Control District in California and, as Executive Director of the Society for Vector Ecology (SOVE), established global collaborations in the field of vector control. He also founded partner organizations of SOVE on nearly every continent. He was a member of several WHO committees and played a key role in establishing organizations such as PAMCA (Pan-African Mosquito Control Association) and other international associations.
Use our callback service. Simply enter your name and phone number, and we will get back to you shortly.
"*" indicates required fields
By submitting the form, you agree to the processing of your data in accordance with the Privacy policy .
