Congratulations to Dr. Mark Blackmore, City of Valdosta and Lowndes County Governments West Nile Virus Service Contracts Winner!  Dr. Blackmore directs the Mosquito Surveillance Program, the first program of its type in the region. Under his guidance, student researchers collect mosquitoes using traps placed in strategically located, permanent sampling areas throughout Lowndes County. Dr. Blackmore’s research team is able to compare data yearly and help guide public health initiatives — including mosquito control efforts — designed to promote health and safety in Valdosta and Lowndes County. The program provides data to local, state, national, and international health agencies/researchers so precautions can be taken to help prevent disease transmission from mosquitoes to humans and animals. Through this experiential learning opportunity, the research skills Dr. Blackmore’s students learn in this lab contribute to their ability to gain access to advanced training at medical and research programs across the country.

Dr. Mark S. Blackmore, VSU Biology Professor, received his M.S. from Auburn University and his Ph.D. from the University of Utah. His principle research interests involve the population biology of mosquitoes and their natural parasites and other aspects of vector biology and disease ecology. Before coming to VSU, Dr. Blackmore was a Fullbright fellow at Uppsala University (Sweden) studying parasitism of snowpool mosquitoes by mermithid nematodes. He was also a Research Associate at the Vector Biology Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, where he examined factors affecting outbreaks of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Michigan, the spread of Aedes albopictus in the Americas and the involvement of the species in recent outbreaks of Dengue in Mexico. 

For more information about the program, check out the VSU News article: VSU Students Take the Lead on Area Mosquito Surveillance Program.