Marceline Finda

Marceline (Lina) Finda is a research scientist at the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania. She earned a BSc in Biochemistry from Western Washington University (USA) in 2010, and in 2014 received a Master of Public Health with dual concentrations in Maternal and Child Health and Health Education and Promotion from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (USA). Ms. Finda's research interests include mosquito-borne disease transmission—the magnitude of transmission, prevention measures, and impact on communities in endemic areas. Ms. Finda is currently overseeing two projects at the Ifakara Health Institute. One examines the magnitude and drivers of residual malaria transmission in Tanzania and Burkina Faso. This project examines two key components: human behaviors, knowledge, and perceptions regarding malaria transmission, and mosquito densities, behaviors, and resistance to current prevention tools. Results will improve our understanding of residual malaria transmission dynamics in Africa and help identify the main environmental and anthropological factors associated with residual exposure. The other project investigates the use of repellent-treated footwear to prevent mosquito-borne infections in Tanzania and Brazil. This study aims to provide an alternative approach that offers round-the-clock protection against malaria, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya using transfluthrin-treated sandals. In addition to her role as a researcher, Ms. Finda serves as a liaison and communicator between the Ifakara Health Institute and its surrounding communities.