Researchers in Africa have found that the odor of dirty socks can lure mosquitoes into traps and help slow the spread of malaria.

Dr. Fredros Okumu of the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania says that in a recent experiment, the foul odor attracted four times as many mosquitoes into the traps than did humans sleeping nearby.

Okumu says the research was conducted in an African village where scientists recreated the scent of dirty socks to lure mosquitoes into boxes laced with insecticide.

The scientist has been awarded a $775,000 grant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Canada's Grand Challenges Explorations to continue his research for two more years.

Okumu is one of 12 grant winners announced by the non-profit organizations on Wednesday. The research program is designed to help scientists around the world test unorthodox ideas to fight persistent health problems, such as malaria.

The U.N. World Health Organization says the mosquito-borne disease killed nearly 800,000 people in 2009.

About 90 percent of malaria deaths occur in Africa, and the vast majority of those who die are children under the age of five.