Prof. Dr. Natacha Protopopoff, PhD

Prof. Natacha Protopopoff has joined Swiss TPH in 2024 as a Project Leader. She is a public health entomologist with over 20 years of experience leading innovative research and managing large-scale vector control projects. Her research focuses on implementing and evaluating malaria control interventions, including the next generation of long-lasting insecticidal nets. Her expertise spans vector control product development, epidemiology, and translating research into policy in Tanzania, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, South Sudan.

A key focus of her current work is testing new vector control tools in emergency situations and exploring strategies to address gaps in malaria intervention coverage. These efforts aim to enhance protection for populations often underserved by current malaria control measures. She has just been awarded a new funding to assess novel vector control tools for nomadic communities in South Sudan.

Her previous employment includes positions at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Malaria Consortium, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, and Médecins Sans Frontières.

Lukole E.A, Gobin S, Cook J, Charlwood J.D, Mosha J.F, Matowo N.S, Mallya E, Aziz T, Mosha J.V, Martin J, Rowland M, Kleinschmidt I, Manjurano A, Mosha F.W, Webster J, Protopopoff N. Acceptability and preferences for dual-active ingredient long-lasting insecticidal nets in rural Tanzania: a mixed-methods study. Malar J. 2026;25:44. DOI: 10.1186/s12936-025-05723-w

Sih C, Assi S.B, Dangbenon E, Talbot B, Biggs J, Koffi A.A, Alou L.P.A, Messenger L.A, Zoh M.G, Camara S, Kulkarni M.A, Protopopoff N, N'Guessan R, Cook J. Disparities in long-lasting insecticidal bed net usage and malaria burden 2 years after a mass distribution campaign in central Côte d'Ivoire: a cross-sectional survey prior to a cluster randomised trial. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026;6(1):e0005642. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005642

Sovi A, Ahouandjinou M.J, Aïkpon R, Totongnon G.S, Yovogan B, Syme T, Dembélé A, Koukpo C.Z, Sagbohan H, Ossè R, Agbo-Ola A, Gnanguenon V, Toffodji U, Megido R.C, Hougbe S.Z, Zoungbédji D.M, Konkon A.K, Cook J, Padonou G.G, Protopopoff N, Akogbéto M.C, Messenger L.A, Adoha C.J. The L1014F kdr mutation is associated with a higher prevalence and load of the Plasmodium-blocking symbiont Microsporidia MB In Anopheles Gambiae s.l. in Benin. BMC Microbiol. 2026(in press). DOI: 10.1186/s12866-026-04810-5

Accrombessi M, Dangbemey P, Assongba L, Yadouleton A, Dangbenon E, Wakpo N, Akogbeto M.C, Protopopoff N, Cook J, Hounkpatin B. Previous or current infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus and its impact on maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Benin: a sero-epidemiological study in pregnant women. Arch Public Health. 2025;83(1):143. DOI: 10.1186/s13690-025-01633-0

Ahoua Alou L.P, Koffi A.A, Dangbenon E, Camara S, Biggs J, Zoh M.G, Assi S.B, Sih C, Talbot B, Kulkarni M.A, Messenger L.A, Protopopoff N, Cook J, N'Guessan R. Characteristics of malaria vector populations and transmission before a randomised controlled trial assessing the efficacy of next-generation insecticide-treated nets in Côte d'Ivoire. Parasit Vectors. 2025;18:277. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06921-w

Biggs J, Challenger J.D, Dee D, Elobolobo E, Chaccour C, Saute F, Staedke S.G, Vilakati S, Chung J.B, Hsiang M.S, Dabira E.D, Erhart A, D'Alessandro U, Tripura R, Peto T.J, Von Seidlein L, Mukaka M, Mosha J, Protopopoff N, Accrombessi M, Hayes R, Churcher T.S, Cook J. Characterisation of between-cluster heterogeneity in malaria cluster randomised trials to inform future sample size calculations. Nat Commun. 2025;16:6615. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61502-w

Sih C, Assi S.B, Talbot B, Dangbenon E, Kulkarni M.A, Koffi A.A, Alou L.P.A, Messenger L.A, Zoh M.G, Camara S, Protopopoff N, N'Guessan R, Cook J. Evaluation of household coverage with long-lasting insecticidal nets in central Côte d'Ivoire. Malar J. 2025;24:104. DOI: 10.1186/s12936-025-05335-4

Talbot B, Alou L.P.A, Koffi A.A, Sih C, Dangbenon E, Zoh M.G, Camara S, Assi S.B, N'Guessan R, Messenger L.A, Protopopoff N, Cook J, Kulkarni M.A. Ecological drivers of malaria vector habitat and transmission over 1 year of long-lasting insecticidal net intervention in Côte d'Ivoire. Parasit Vectors. 2025;18:343. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06984-9

Thickstun C, Lukole E, Mosha J.F, Manjurano A, Kleinschmidt I, Mosha F.W, Charlwood J.D, Rowland M, Jolly A, Zwerling A, Protopopoff N, Kulkarni M. Inter-cluster contamination: a semivariance analysis of community effect ranges of malaria vector control interventions in a four-armed malaria trial in Muleba, Tanzania. Malar J. 2025;24:184. DOI: 10.1186/s12936-025-05438-y

Martin J.L, Messenger L.A, Bernard E, Kisamo M, Hape P, Sizya O, Festo E, Matiku W, Marcel V, Malya E, Aziz T, Matowo N.S, Mosha J.F, Mosha F.W, Rowland M, Manjurano A, Protopopoff N. Evaluation of bio-efficacy of field-aged novel long-lasting insecticidal nets (PBO, chlorfenapyr or pyriproxyfen combined with pyrethroid) against Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) in Tanzania. Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2024;6:100216. DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100216