Mosquito-borne illnesses

From pioneering work in the 1950s to ongoing research today, our researchers are fighting diseases carried by the world’s deadliest animal: the mosquito.

Aedes aegypti mosquito with white markings on its legs, standing on a white surface with a red liquid. A person spraying insect repellent on their arm. Mosquitos on a window with a blurred, wooded background.

Mosquito-borne illness research

Fighting mosquito borne illnesses

How Notre Dame continued the fight against Zika in South America.

A close up view of a mosquito on a human arm.

Discover and engage
  1. A gloved hand holds a petri dish with purple liquid drops, and a pipette is dispensing more liquid into one of the drops.

    Article

    Fighting to cure brain cancer

    To better understand glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, a Notre Dame researcher thought outside the box—and off planet Earth.

  2. The ruined Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) featuring exposed brick and a skeletal metal dome against an overcast sky. Several dark crows perch on the dome, one flying past.

    Photo Essay

    Pilgrimage of peace

    In August 2025, Notre Dame students joined university students from the U.S. and Japan on a pilgrimage of peace to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of those cities.

  3. A woman with brown curly hair and red lipstick holds a baby wearing a denim jacket and black bow headband.

    Article

    Fighting for maternal health

    The US has the highest maternal mortality rate of developed nations. An innovative postpartum care model from Notre Dame can save mothers around the globe.

  4. Aerial view of Notre Dame Stadium filled with fans during a performance. Four helicopters fly over the green field where the Band of the Fighting Irish forms the ND logo.

    Photo Essay

    Do you remember. . .

    The month in photos, September 2025

  5. A serious man in a dark blue shirt and glasses stands with his arms crossed in front of a colorful hurricane projection.

    Podcast

    Improving hurricane forecasts

    Learn how new drone technology is helping scientists better understand what happens inside a hurricane close to the ocean’s surface.

  6. A chicken looking toward the camera in a farm setting.

    Article

    Fighting for faster virus detection

    An electronic nose developed by Notre Dame researchers is helping sniff out bird flu biomarkers for faster detection and fewer sick birds.

  7. Satellite image of a hurricane with a clearly defined eye over a blue gridded map.

    Article

    Fighting to improve hurricane forecasts

    Researchers at Notre Dame are improving hurricane forecast accuracy, giving officials time to evacuate and protect residents.

  8. Silhouetted statue with outstretched arms against a vibrant pink and orange sunset, with the golden dome of the Main Building and its statue of Mary at the University of Notre Dame.

    Photo Essay

    So long, summer

    The quiet summer days on campus.

  9. Single peanut in the shell on a reflective surface, with a blurred background of more peanuts against a warm, red and orange backdrop.

    Article

    From reaction to resolution: The future of allergy treatment

    How a child’s simple request led to an extraordinary breakthrough in peanut allergy treatment.