Gabriel Astorga

Born in the Philippines, Gab knows first-hand the remarkable progress that can be made fighting malaria. Fifteen years ago, the Philippines was recording around 75,000 malaria cases every year. Because of the Philippines unique geography and terrain, Malaria was tackled by using a sub-national elimination tactic for interrupting transmission. 

Through sustained investment, innovation and community action, the country has dramatically reduced its malaria burden, with 72 of its 82 provinces now certified malaria-free and the disease far closer to elimination than ever before. To continue this success of reducing and ultimately ending transmission needs continued political and economic support, capacity building, and effective surveillance/case management. 

Inspired by the power of science to tackle some of the world's biggest challenges in health and microbiology, Gab went on to become an academic and award-winning science communicator. His research has explored how genome sequencing can help us better understand the diversity of microorganisms, while his public engagement work helps make complex science accessible, engaging and relevant to everyday audiences. 

Today, Gab reaches more than 500,000 people across social media, where he brings science to life through entertaining and informative content. From teaching biology on BBC Bitesize to delivering a TEDx talk at the University of Cambridge, he is passionate about showing how scientific discovery can improve lives. As a Malaria No More UK Ambassador, Gab is helping tell the story of how research, innovation and new tools are bringing us closer than ever to a world free from malaria.