American Committee of Medical Entomology (ACME)
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ACME Objectives
The American Committee of Medical Entomology (ACME), is organized under the auspices of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and exists to work toward the following objectives:
1. To promote medical entomology in the ASTMH and other organizations whose scope of activities includes the area of arthropods that directly or indirectly cause diseases or conditions.
2. To organize symposia or workshops that emphasize, but are not limited to, the contributions of medical entomology to tropical medicine.
3. To recognize outstanding contributions by medical entomologists.
4. To recruit young professionals and train the next generation of medical entomologists.
5. To build an inclusive, open-minded, and environmentally friendly community of medical entomologists that reflects the diverse backgrounds of ASTMH membership.
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Charter and Strategic Plan
ACME Charter
ACME Strategic Plan
Leadership Documents
To access Council documents, click here.
2014 ACME Annual Business Meeting Slides
Awards and Funding Opportunities
Please note: To share equally among everyone in our tropmed community, only one ASTMH (including the Subgroups) award, travel award, fellowships and/or medal will be awarded to a single recipient in a given year.
Those who receive a Subgroup research/travel award are not eligible to receive an ASTMH-sponsored fellowship or ASTMH Travel Award.
Those who receive an ASTMH Travel Award are not eligible to receive any Subgroup research/travel awards or ASTMH-sponsored fellowships.
Medal recipients are limited to one medal per year.
Hoogstraal Award
The Harry Hoogstraal Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Medical Entomology was established in 1987 to recognize the most influential medical entomologists for their contributions to their field. This award is named in honor of Dr. Harry Hoogstraal whose contributions to systematics of medically important arthropods and the diseases they carry are vast. He was described as "the greatest authority on ticks and tickborne diseases who ever lived," and his scientific curiosity and passion for increasing the description of arthropods from remote areas (Philippines, Dutch New Guinea, Mexico, Madagascar, Egypt) led him to describe a mind-blowing number of novel mosquito and tick species. During his lifetime he authored or co-authored more than 500 publications and directed the translation of over 1,800 scientific papers and books (German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian). More than 200 species of organisms have been named in honor of Harry Hoogstraal.
Recipient, Year
Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, 2024
Johns Hopkins University
Jose Ribiero, 2023
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseaes
Ed Cupp, 2022
Auburn University
Bruce Christensen, 2021
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Stephen Higgs, 2020
Biosecurity Research Institute, Kansas State University
Frank Collins, 2019
University of Notre Dame
Thomas Scott, 2018
University of California Davis
Willem Takken, 2017
Wageningen University
Patricia Nuttall, 2016
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Durland Fish, 2015
Yale School of Public Health
Robert Lane, 2014
University of California, Berkeley
Barry Beaty, 2013
Colorado State University
William Reisen, 2012
Center for Vectorborne Diseases
Abdu Azad, 2011
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Willy Burgdorfer, 2010
Rocky Mountain Lab
William E. Collins, 2009
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Daniel Sonenshine, 2008
Old Dominion University
Bruce Eldridge, 2007
University of California, Davis
Mario Coluzzi, 2006
Instituto Di Parasitologia, Universita Degli Studi Di Roma
Robert Washino, 2005
University of California, Davis
John D. Edman, 2004
University of California, Davis
Andrew Spielman, 2003
Harvard School of Public Health
Michael Service, 2002
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
No award 2001
Chris Curtis, 2000
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
No award 1999
Gene DeFoliart, 1998
University of Wisconsin, Madison
No award 1997
George B. Craig, Jr., 1996
University of Notre Dame
A. Ralph Barr, 1995
No award 1994
Thomas H. G. Aitken, 1993
James H. Oliver, 1992
Georgia Southern University
William L. Jellison, 1991
William R. Horsfall, 1990
Robert Traub, 1989
Lloyd E. Rozeboom, 1988
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
William C. Reeves, 1987
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
ACME Award of Distinction
The ACME Award of Distinction was established in 2022 to help recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of medical entomology.
Award Recipients
2024
Dawn Wesson
Tulane University
2023
Ellen Dotson
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2022
Michael Turell
ACME Breakthrough in Medical Entomology Award
ACME seeks to award funding of $1,000 to outstanding recent contributions (within the past 5 years) to the study and/or practice of Medical Entomology that ultimately will contribute to reducing the burden of human diseases transmitted by arthropods. This award is designed to encourage and acknowledge significant advances in the field by investigators at any career stage. Examples of such advances include breakthrough research findings in vector biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, ecology, evolution or significant advances in technologies for vector surveillance or control.
Nominees/applicants must be a member of ASTMH and ACME. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.
Award Recipients
2024
Ryan Smith
Iowa State University
2022
Maria Luisa Simoes
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Johns Hopkins University
2019
Stephanie James
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
2018
Alvaro Molina-Cruz
National Institutes of Health
2017
Zhijian Tu
Virginia Tech
2016
Serap Aksoy
Yale University School of Medicine
ACME Future Leaders in International Medical Entomology
The Future Leaders in International Medical Entomology award is a competitive award that will be offered to an outstanding junior medical entomology researcher (must be at the undergraduate to post-doctoral level) to showcase individuals that have matched interests to ACME's objectives of promoting medical entomology and reducing the burden of human diseases transmitted by arthropods globally. Applicants must be a non-US citizen from an LMIC.
One recipient will receive $2,000 to be used towards attending the ASTMH Annual Meeting and/or research supplies. The awardee must present their research at ASTMH and acknowledge the award in their presentation and when publishing research supported by the fellowship. Women are encouraged to apply.
Award Recipients
2024
Roland Bamou
National Institutes of Health
2023
Majidah Hamid-Adiamoh
University of Indiana and Eck Institute School of Public Health
2022
Henry Mawejje
Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration
2020
Cusi Ferradas
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
2019
Adélaïde Miarinjara
National Institutes of Health
2018
Mabel Taracena
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Puja Tiwary
Banaras Hindu University
2017
Nsa Dada
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Eric Ochomo
Kenya Medical Research Institute
ACME Travel Awards for Young Investigators
ACME now offers three Young Investigator Travel Awards: Masters, Doctoral and Post-doctoral and International. All research must involve arthropods of medical importance. Recipients will receive a complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting and up to $900 to support travel and accomodation costs.
Award Recipients
2024
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Juliana Hoyos
University of Georgia
Stephen Opoku Afriyie
Texas Tech University
Young Investigator Award - International
Millicent Opoku
LaTrobe University
Mercy Tuwei
KEMRI-Wellcomes Trust Research Programme
Young Investigator Award - Postdoc
Rose-Margarita Gelvez Ramirez
Centro de Atenció
2023
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Bianca Morejon Viteri
Kansas State University
Stephen Okeyo
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Young Investigator Award - International
Cynthia Odhiambo
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Young Investigator Award - Postdoc
Thomas Vial
Institut Pasteur
2022
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Ndey Bassin Jobe
Arizona State University
Natalie Wickenkamp
Colorado State University
Young Investigator Award - International
Juan Lol
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Sachini Nimalrathna
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
2021
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Kyndall Dye-Braumuller
University of South Carolina
Thomas Syme
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Young Investigator Award - Post Doc
Sara Buezo Montero
Sapienza University of Rome
Lucia Paulina Maldonado-Ruiz
Kansas State University
2020
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Mary Gebhardt
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Adeline Williams
Colorado State University
Young Investigator Award - International
Maria Carrasquilla
Universidad de los Andes
Astri Nur Faizah
University of Tokyo
Young Investigator Award - Post Doc
Gabriela Garcia
FIOCRUZ Brazil
Thiago Soares de Souza Vieira
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2019
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Diana Nyanting'a
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Kristine Werling
Harvard School of Public Health
Young Investigator Award - International
Renee Ali
University of West Indies
Marilyn Murindahabi
University of Rwanda
Young Investigator Award - Post Doc
Deepani Fernando
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Emily Gallichotte
Colorado State University
2018
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Leticia Smith
Cornell University
Olivia Winokur
University of California Davis
Young Investigator Award - International
Fabien Aubry
Institut Pasteur
Young Investigator Award - Post Doc
Sarah Merkling
Institut Pasteur
2017
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Carolyn Hodo
Texas A&M University
Young Investigator Award - International
Om Prakash Singh
Banaras Hindu University
Young Investigator Award - Post Doc
Hannah Romo
Colorado State University
2016
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Rebecca Love
University of Notre Dame
Young Investigator Award - International
Allan Muhwezi
Makerere University
Young Investigator Award - Post Doc
Laura Dickson
2015
Young Investigator Award - Graduate
Marissa Grossman
Emory University
Bahjat Marayati
University of North Carolina
Young Investigator Award - International
Marlon Saavedra Romero
Asociacion Benefica Prisma, Peru
Young Investigator Award - Post Doc
Claudia Rueckert
Colorado State University
2014
Marta Moreno Leirana
University of California, San Diego
Christina Newman
University of Wisconsin
Margaret Paternina Gomez
University de Sucre
2013
Robert McCann
Michigan State University
2012
Anthony Clemons
University of Notre Dame
2011
Julia Brown
Yale University
2010
Cara Halldin
Case Western Reserve University, Center for Global Health & Disesase
2009
Lauren Cator
Cornell University
Win Surachetpong
University of California, Davis
2008
Nicole Gottdenker
University of Georgia
Meera Venkatesen
Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network
2007
Maria Julia Dantur
INSUE School of Natural Sciences and Miguel Lillo Institute UNT
Lisa Purcell
McGill University
2006
Luca Facchinelli
University of California, Davis
Sonja Kos
2005
Rebekah Kent
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Sharon Minnick
University of California, Davis
Executive Council Membership
Past Executive Council History
Current ACME Executive Council Members
|
Position
|
Member
|
Term Expires
|
|
Chair
|
Sarah Hamer
|
2025
|
|
Chair-elect
|
Maria Luisa Simões |
2025
|
|
Past Chair
|
Adriana Troyo
|
2025
|
|
Secretary/Treasurer
|
Nsa Dada |
2026 |
|
Councilor
|
Nsa Dada
|
2025
|
|
Councilor
|
Berlin Londono
|
2025
|
|
Councilor
|
Pamela Pennington
|
2025
|
|
Councilor
|
Zach Adelman
|
2026
|
|
Councilor
|
Jewelna Akorli
|
2026
|
|
Councilor
|
Sarah Hamer
|
2026
|
|
Councilor
|
Serap Aksoy
|
2027
|
|
Councilor
|
Kingsley Badu
|
2027
|
| Councilor |
Maria Luisa Simoes |
2027
|
|
Councilor
|
Troy Anderson |
2028 |
Councilor
|
Ana Priscila Bascunan |
2028 |
Councilor
|
Solomon Kibret Birhanie |
2028 |
|
Student Representative
|
Akilah Stewart
|
2025
|
Student Representative
|
Olayinka Olajiga |
2026 |
|
Hoogstraal Medal/SCJohnson Coordinator
|
|
|
|
Travel Awards Coordinator
|
|
|
(date indicates Council term limit)
Arthropod Containment Guidelines (ACG)
The Arthropod Containment Guidelines are an important product of the work ACME does to support and advocate for vector biology research nationally and globally. The guidelines provide a reference for research laboratories to assess risk and establish protocols for the safe handling of arthropod vectors of human and animal disease agents. The guidelines were originally published in 2004 in Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, and have been updated and published in 2019 to reflect the spectrum of vector taxa under investigation, and the demands of working with vector arthropods in the context of the Select Agent Rule. ACME produced the updated guidelines and supported Open Access in Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, February 2019, Vol 19, No. 3 .
Addendum on Gene Drive
Perspectives
Perspectives - The idea has been accepted that ACME should take a more active role toward activities that promote the safe and effective conduct of activities in vector biology and disease transmission research. The following resources are intended to provide the ACME membership access to resources related to such efforts.
Considerations for Human Blood-Feeding and Arthropod Exposure in Vector Biology Research: An Essential Tool for Investigations and Disease Control
Harrington LC, Foy BD, Bangs MJ. . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2020 Sep 9. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2620.
Guidance for Evaluating the Safety of Experimental Releases of Mosquitoes, Emphasizing Mark-Release-Recapture
Techniques
Benedict MQ, Charlwood JD, Harrington LC, Lounibos LP, Reisen WK, Tabachnick WJ. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2018 Jan;18(1):39-48. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2152.
Considerations for the Use of Human Participants in Vector Biology Research: A Tool for Investigators and Regulators
Achee Nicole L., Youngblood Laura, Bangs Michael J., Lavery James V., and James Stephanie. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. February 2015, 15(2): 89-102. doi:10.1089/vbz.2014.1628.
The Science of Science Communication
Know of a resource that you would like ACME to consider for broader awareness? Please contact Molly Duman Scheel, ACME Secretary/Treasurer.
Advocacy
Advocacy - The ACME is committed to advocating the role of medical entomology in public health, both domestic and abroad. This includes raising awareness of research issues with policy makers, highlighting the importance of research and making specific funding requests for areas of concern or minimal focus. The following resources are intended to provide the ACME membership access to resources related to such efforts.
Top Ten Rules for Working with Congress
ACME Members Visit the Hill
Know of an important issue that you would like ACME to consider as part of its advocacy efforts? Please contact Adriana Troyo, ACME Chair.
For more information on ACME, contact Buffy Finn, Manager, Membership.