The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Research Fund is a vital initiative aimed at driving research in the field of mosquito control and related topics. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to public health enhancement through mosquito suppression, AMCA recognizes the critical role that research plays in developing innovative tools and strategies. With the ultimate goal of protecting the public from mosquito-borne diseases and discomfort, the AMCA Research Fund invites new pre-proposals each year.

The AMCA Research Fund is devoted to funding research that will lead to new tools and strategies for mosquito surveillance and control and ultimately protect the public from mosquito-borne disease and discomfort from mosquito bites.

Annual Proposal Process

Each year, AMCA publishes a Research Fund request for proposals including goals, priority areas, official timelines, criteria, funding details, and requirements.

The general timeline for each year is as follows:

• Annual RFP Published – Early April
• Pre-Proposals Due – Mid-June
• Notification for Full Proposal Requests – August
• Full Proposals Due – Mid-September
• Awardees Notified – December 1st
• Funding Awarded – By January 15th

AMCA Research Fund 2027 Call for Pre-Proposals

The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Research Fund invites new pre-proposals for research on predictive modeling, exposure assessment, and mitigation strategies to evaluate the risks of various mosquito control approaches and provide guidance on minimizing those risks. Funding is available for projects in the calendar year 2027.

AMCA® is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing leadership, information, and education to enhance public health and quality of life through the suppression of mosquitoes.

Focus for 2027

This year’s AMCA Research Fund will prioritize research funding related to the development and/or evaluation of new control tools. This can be broadly defined as any tool (chemical, operational, formulations, etc.) that leads to increased efficacy and more targeted control in the field. Research projects that possess a semi-field or field component will be prioritized as they more readily demonstrate potential viability of the technology. 

• Development of novel experimental molecules – e.g. active ingredients
• Evaluation of novel chemistries with the intent of circumventing insecticide resistance in the field
• Novel insecticide synergists
• Research related to re-purposed agricultural insecticide chemistries that have yet to be optimized in the field of mosquito control (chlorfenapyr, pirimphos methyl, neonicotinoids, etc.)
• Novel means to apply chemical control formulations
• Development and evaluation of unmanned aerial and ground vehicle (UAV) application techniques
• Evaluation of potential synergism between different control approaches (chemical control applications paired with larval reduction strategies, mass deployment of traps paired with chemical application, biological control paired with chemical control)
• Artificial intelligence-assisted insecticide deployment modeling to reduce mosquito populations or reduce the likelihood of resistance development

Specific Priorities

New Chemical Control Tools – Identification/development of new chemical control tools. This may include experimental active ingredients (A.I.s), novel synergists, or unique formulation additives that improve mosquito control and circumvent current insecticide resistance.

Evaluating extant agricultural chemistries for mosquito control – the evaluation of other active ingredients or modes of action deployed in other pest control domains (agriculture, home pest control, etc.), as these previously registered chemistries may have a lower regulatory barrier for use in mosquito control

Novel application tools/techniques – research related to the development and evaluation of unique chemical and non-chemical control applications that more effectively reduce mosquito populations and/or reduce non-target exposure, which may include UAV spray techniques or protocols

Artificial intelligence-assisted chemical control application – machine-learning or computer modeling that aims to improve chemical control and reduce insecticide resistance in a specific geographic location.

Priority Considerations

• Collaborative projects: proposals that involve partnerships with mosquito control districts, regulatory agencies, or industry stakeholders will be prioritized.
• Field applicability: studies should have a semi-field or field component to demonstrate real-world viability.
• Innovation: research integrating artificial intelligence, remote sensing, novel chemical formulations, or other nontraditional approaches for improved risk management is encouraged.

Submission Guidelines

Pre-proposals must be submitted using the pre-proposal form found here.

The deadline for submission is June 12th, 2026 and procedures for full proposals (if selected for future submission) will be provided to select groups after review.

For further information, contact Natalie Perry, Rebecca Heinig, or Edmund Norris.

We look forward to receiving innovative proposals that will advance our understanding of risk assessment and mitigation in mosquito control and contribute to safer, more effective practices for the industry.

Criteria

Pre-proposals will be evaluated on their scientific merit and relevance to the outlined priority areas.

Pre-proposals are reviewed by a committee appointed by the AMCA Board of Directors that will consist of at least three leaders in the mosquito and vector control industry, three district personnel, three university personnel, and three government (local, state, federal) public health personnel.

All pre-proposals must conform to local, state, and federal regulations including those governing the use of humans and non-human animals in scientific research and all environmental regulations.

Pre-proposals will be reviewed from 12 June 2026 to 31 July 2026.  Principal Investigators of proposals selected for a full proposal will be notified on 03 August 2026.  Full proposals from selected pre-proposals will be due by 11 September 2026 with notification of award by 01 December 2026.

Principal Investigators for those projects selected for full proposals will be provided guidance on the requirements of a full proposal.

Funding

Funding will be provided to awardees by 12 January 2027, and awardees will be publicly announced at the 2026 AMCA Annual Meeting in Portland, OR and published in the Annual Meeting Program.

Funding awarded may be up to $55,000 per one year of a project; however, preference will be given to projects that request less than $55,000.

Funds should be spent within 12 months of the award date; unspent funds will be revoked and replaced into the AMCARF pool for the next funding cycle. Requests for extension beyond 12 months must be submitted to the AMCARF no later than 1 month before the expiration date.

AMCARF does not make multi-year funding commitments. However, AMCARF will make a single-year commitment for a multi-year project. For multi-year projects, the year for which support is being requested must be indicated (e.g., “Year 2 of a 3-year project”).

AMCARF is committed to funding small projects and cannot fund university or government overhead costs or administrative fees

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Strong vector-control relevance

The most competitive proposals directly address:

• mosquito surveillance,
• vector ecology,
• insecticide resistance,
• mosquito population control,
• arbovirus transmission,
• integrated vector management (IVM),
• public-health preparedness.

Applications with clear operational mosquito-control implications are strongly favored.

2. Clear public-health impact

Successful projects commonly demonstrate potential to:

• reduce mosquito-borne disease risk,
• improve outbreak response,
• enhance surveillance systems,
• optimize vector-control strategies,
• improve community protection.

Public-health applicability is one of the strongest predictors of competitiveness.

3. Applied and implementable research design

AMCA reviewers often prioritize:

• field-applicable methods,
• operational feasibility,
• realistic implementation plans,
• scalable interventions,
• practical surveillance tools.

Purely theoretical entomology projects may be less competitive unless tied to control outcomes.

4. Strong methodological rigor

Competitive proposals generally include:

• robust field-study design,
• appropriate controls,
• spatial/statistical analysis,
• validated entomologic methods,
• realistic sampling frameworks.

Weak study design is a frequent reviewer concern.

5. Preliminary data or operational experience

Successful applicants often provide:

• pilot surveillance data,
• prior field studies,
• resistance-monitoring results,
• vector-control operational experience,
• feasibility evidence.

Prior mosquito-control involvement significantly strengthens credibility.

6. Interdisciplinary collaboration

High-scoring projects frequently involve:

• entomologists,
• epidemiologists,
• public-health agencies,
• GIS/data scientists,
• environmental scientists,
• vector-control districts.

Collaborative public-health integration is highly valued.

7. Innovation balanced with practicality

Competitive applications often combine:

• innovative surveillance/control tools,
• novel trapping technologies,
• AI/data-driven prediction,
• genetic/vector-control advances,
• drone or remote-sensing approaches

with realistic deployment potential.

8. Relevance to emerging vector-borne threats

Projects related to:

• dengue,
• Zika,
• West Nile virus,
• chikungunya,
• malaria vectors,
• climate-driven vector expansion

have become increasingly competitive.

9. Community and environmental considerations

Reviewers may favor projects addressing:

• environmental sustainability,
• community engagement,
• pesticide stewardship,
• ecological impact minimization,
• public education.

Integrated approaches often score better than narrow chemical-control studies.

10. Potential for broader implementation

Applications are strengthened when findings could:

• inform public-health policy,
• improve national mosquito-control programs,
• support CDC/NIH funding pathways,
• scale across multiple geographic regions.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Frequent reviewer concerns include:

• insufficient operational relevance,
• weak field feasibility,
• inadequate statistical planning,
• limited novelty,
• unclear disease-control implications,
• unrealistic timelines,
• poor sampling strategy,
• lack of vector-control expertise.

Highest-Probability Application Profile

The strongest AMCA applications usually combine:

applied mosquito-control problem + strong field feasibility + public-health relevance + interdisciplinary collaboration + rigorous surveillance/control methodology + scalable implementation potential