By Dominik Wilde, Motor1.com
Land Rover has joined forces with the Mobile Malaria Project, winners
of the 2018 Land Rover Bursary in partnership with the Royal
Geographical Society to embark on an eight-week adventure.
The trip will comprise of three Oxford University researchers, led by
Dr George Busby, and will take in Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.
They will cross more than 6,300 kilometers (3,914 miles) in a
specially-modified Land Rover Discovery to investigate the challenges facing those on the front line of malaria control in Africa.
"We are humbled that Land Rover
and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) have chosen our project
as the 2018 bursary winner," said Dr George Busby, Mobile Malaria
Project Expedition Leader. "Although global malaria rates have halved
over the past 20 years, progress more recently has stalled. By working
with colleagues in Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya, our journey will
help us to understand the challenges facing malaria researchers in
Africa in 2019."
"The
loan of the Discovery not only gives us the capability we need to visit
locations we might not have been able to reach otherwise, it gives us
the space and versatility to transport the equipment we need. This will
allow us to gain a better understanding of how this technology could be
used to answer locally relevant questions about malaria parasites and
the mosquitoes that transmit them."
The car has been designed and
developed by the Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations skunkworks, and
is equipped with a mobile genetic sequencing laboratory that includes a
fridge/freezer unit to safely store scientific supplies, a bespoke load
space configuration frame system with specially-designed storage
equipment cases, and an on-board expedition battery. The unique
modifications will allow the research team to trial portable DNA
sequencing technology, in collaboration with African research centers,
to better understand how the technology can be used in different
locations.
On the exterior of the vehicle there is a purpose-built
dual sun awning, rescue equipment, a winch, sand/mud tracks, expedition
roof rack and LED night driving lamps.
"Malaria is a global issue
which impacts millions of people worldwide. At Jaguar Land Rover we are
passionate about using our technology to empower talent and enable
experts in their field to make a real difference in our world," said Dr
Steve Iley, Chief Medical Officer, Jaguar Land Rover. "Through the
bespoke technology developed by our Special Vehicle Operations team,
this project has the potential to deliver a real insight into malaria
control globally and I am proud that Land Rover can be a part of that
journey."
