Dr. Okech’s primary research seeks to understand the biological processes occurring in the mosquito midgut after food ingestion and how they influence mosquito survival and disease transmission. Understanding these processes may uncover new environmentally safe opportunities and tools that could potentially be used to reduce mosquito vector population and/or prevent mosquito borne disease transmission. His research looks at mechanisms of nutrient transport in the midgut of mosquito larvae with the goal of elucidating unique pathways of nutrient absorption that can be exploited for mosquitocide development. His other research on malaria is looking at the characteristics of malaria transmission risk in Haiti, focusing of anti-malaria drug resistance, malaria mosquito vectors breeding habitat and biting activity. He is also evaluating environmental risk factors for dengue mosquito vectors breeding in urban and peri-urban areas of Haiti.