Adi Utarini

Adi Utarini is a prominent medical researcher and public health expert from Indonesia. She is best known for her groundbreaking work in the field of dengue fever control using Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes.

Early Life and Education

Adi Utarini was born and raised in Indonesia. She pursued her undergraduate studies in medicine at the University of Gadjah Mada, one of the most prestigious universities in Indonesia. She later obtained her Master's degree in Public Health from the same institution. Utarini then went on to earn her PhD from the University of Umea in Sweden, specializing in epidemiology and public health.

Career and Research

Utarini's research primarily focuses on the control and prevention of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of a novel method to control the spread of dengue by infecting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with the Wolbachia bacteria.

The Wolbachia bacteria, when present in the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, reduces the mosquitoes' ability to transmit the dengue virus to humans. Utarini's research has shown that releasing these Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into the environment can significantly reduce the incidence of dengue fever in the affected areas.

Utarini's work has been recognized globally and has had a significant impact on public health policies and strategies for dengue control in various countries.

Awards and Recognition

In recognition of her significant contributions to the field of public health, Utarini was awarded the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to individuals who have made major scientific advances in the field of global health.

See Also

• Dengue fever
• Wolbachia
• Aedes aegypti
• Public health
• Epidemiology