Early Investigators

Dr Adedeji is a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and Honorary Consultant Physician & Clinical Pharmacologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. He had residency training in Internal Medicine with a subspecialty in Clinical Pharmacology at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. In 2017, Waheed received an HIV Research Trust Award Scholarship for training in HIV Clinical Pharmacology Research at the Translational Pharmacology Research Core, New York State University at Buffalo, under the distinguished Professor Gene D. Morse. He completed a two-year Johnson & Johnson Research & Development (R&D) Fellowship Program within the Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium. In 2022, he received the Emerging Global Leader Award (K43) from the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health to investigate the influence of fluoxetine on the disposition kinetics of dolutegravir among people living with HIV with major depression in Nigeria.

Dr Annabel Banda was born and grew up in Esigodini, Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. She came from an extended family of eight kids. She did her primary school at Mvuthu Primary school (1993-1999), proceeded to Mvuthu Secondary school (2000-2003) for form 1-4. After attaining five ‘A’s and 2 ‘B’s and 2’C’S at ‘O’ level she proceeded to do her A level at Usher High School (2004-2005). She was sponsored to do her ‘A’ level by Mr Mike Mgcini Nkolomi under Cry Mantengwane Sports Bar. After passing her A level with triple D’s in Maths, Chemistry, and Biology she proceeded to attain her undergraduate degree (2006-2010) at the University of Zimbabwe still being sponsored by the same person. She attained upper second class during this time, in her pursuit not to be a secondary teacher she enrolled for a Master of Science in Tropical Entomology (2011-2013) at UZ. This was to be a self-sponsored journey, full of ups and downs due to fees crisis. She later completed this and ironically went to be a teacher for 5years at Swazi High School (2014-2019). During this time in 2015 she enrolled for a Doctorate degree at Chinhoyi University of Technology. During this time it was a lot better because she was working, however in 2019 things got tough. When she was at the verge of giving up, she was fortunate to get a lectureship job at Gwanda State University. She later graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and Environment in 2022 after finishing in 2021. Currectly she is a lecturer and Department chairperson in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Production. A proud mother of one, Lillianna her name is called. He father passed on in 2015 (John banda), survived by one parent, the mother (Constance Filicity Banda) who is her pillar of hope. Her research interest are rodents, ectoparasite, endoparasites, zoonotic diseases and pollinators. However generally interest in any biological research due to her undergraduate.

Alton Bodley is an Adjunct Lecturer and Data Controller in the Department of Computing at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus. Mr. Bodley is currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science with a focus on Intelligent Decision Support Systems and optimization algorithms and is a member of the Knowledge Discovery and Intelligent Systems research group. His doctoral research focuses on articulating a framework for generating artifacts capable of optimizing the utility of finite resources to efficiently satisfy a series of success factors. The framework takes into account the environment within which the resources are to be utilized and the interrelationship between these resources and their environment, thereby automating the distillation of the necessary environmental parametric influencers necessary to maximize the probability of achieving a well-defined objective. Mr. Bodley lectures in the Postgraduate Data Science program and his interests lie within the realm of Data Science, Management and Engineering. With a blend of practical experience and academic rigor, he is committed to harnessing data driven insights for solving real world challenges.

Dr. Chimponda received her doctoral degree from the University of Zimbabwe in 2021, and her undergraduate and master’s degrees were in Biochemistry. She currently works in the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health Sciences. Here research interests include Immunology and Biochemical Pharmacology with an emphasis on biomarkers of inflammation, pediatric schistosomiasis, HIV and the gut microbiome. She has over a dozen peer-reviewed journal publications, written two book chapters and has made several conferences presentations.

Winnie is a biomedical scientist/biochemist whose research drive is to transform the narrative of the so called “infectious diseases of poverty”. She strives to utilise indigenous knowledge systems to advance the search for bioactive secondary metabolites from plant sources. These may be applied as new therapeutic molecules, adjunct therapies, and immunomodulatory agents to improve treatment outcome in infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Winnie is a recipient of the International Science Program-Natural Products Research Network for East and Central Africa (ISP-NAPRECA) fellowship award (2022); whose primary goal is to promote natural products research on the African continent. She is teaching faculty at the Harare Institute of Technology in Zimbabwe, within the school of Allied Health Sciences, where she also serves as a mentor for young people. As a member of the Organisation of Women in Science in Developing countries, Winnie extends this mentorship role to less privileged communities in order to help reduce gender disparities in STEM education. Outside of the laboratory, Winnie is a nature lover who enjoys hiking, and a proud mother to two budding footballers.

Ratidzo Chirimo is a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe in the Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences in the Medical Laboratory Sciences Unit. She is a biomedical scientist with a specialty in Clinical Biochemistry. Ratidzo is a DPhil student at the University of Zimbabwe. Her current research is on the risk and genomic profiles of insulin resistance of adults living with HIV on dolutegravir (DTG) –-based antiretroviral therapy. This study is part of efforts to strengthen pharmacovigilance in real-life cohorts of people living with HIV. Her research interests are HIV, non-communicable diseases, pharmacogenomics, and biochemical markers in diseases.

Prosper Tafadzwa Denhere has more than 4 years' experience as a university lecturer of Information Systems. He joined the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) in 2017 after being seconded by the Midlands State University to spearhead the establishment of a Department of Computer Science and Information Systems. Prosper has taught enterprise architecture, information systems governance, systems analysis and design, E-business, and digital financial services. Prosper is a final year PhD student in Information Systems specializing in Health. Prosper has been a Senate and Council Board member of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences and responsible for University Quality Assurance Governance.

Gregory Dowo is a lecturer in the Department of Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. He has a background in botanical sciences and is interested in ethnopharmacology, plant diversity, and conservation. He was one of the nine Zimbabwean faculty members who participated in the Zimbabwe Emerging Faculty Development Program (ZEFDP) at SUNY Buffalo. He is working on a research project with his mentors, Professor Raymond Cha and Professor Stanley Schwartz, on setting up a collaborative research group on ethnopharmacology between Zimbabwean institutions and SUNY Buffalo.

I am a Clinical Scientist specialized in Medical Microbiology registered with the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe. I also am a Molecular Biologist and am currently a registered PhD student registered with the University of Zimbabwe working on a research topic entitled ‘Investigating Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) species in Zimbabwe and Development of Candidate Vaccines’.

Current DPhil candidate with UZ and HIVRT Fellow Research interest in ARV nanoformulations for improved HIV treatment. Have gained exposure in fabrication and characterization of nanoparticles, cell toxicity and analytical methods at University at Buffalo & University of Western Cape through research visit programmes. Currently involved in developing ARV assays for an International Pharmacology lab based in Zimbabwe

Pinky Manyau is a PhD student with a keen interest in HIV-related lymphomas. Her previous work includes investigating factors associated with survival of people living with HIV (PLWH) who have comorbid non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). For her PhD she is investigating the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of large B-cell lymphomas in PLWH.

Celia MJ Matyanga is a pharmacist with an MSc Clinical Pharmacology. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Pharmacokinetics, investigating the interactions between antiretrovirals and traditional medicines in people living with HIV/ AIDS. She works as a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Zimbabwe and mentors students. She serves as a member of the National Health Research and Development Committee for the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe. Celia is an awardee of the Zimbabwe Emerging Faculty Development Program, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science and other awards stated here: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9799-136X Her research interests are in traditional medicines, pharmacokinetics and pharmacy practice. As a pharmacist, she is passionate about improving the practice of pharmacy to optimize drug therapy. She is passionate about grant writing and hopes to collaborate with senior researchers in securing grants to solve global health problems

Samantha is a third-year paediatric medicine resident at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica. In addition to her clinical duties at the University Hospital of the West Indies, she hosts informal academic sessions with medical students rotating through the paediatric portion of the undergraduate medical programme of the UWI. She previously attended Yale University, Connecticut, USA where from 2010 to 2012 she used time lapse confocal microscopy to characterize cytokinetic defects in mutant strains of fission yeast. She is also a graduate in Medicine and Surgery of the University of the West Indies’ Mona Campus and a graduate in Theology from the Jamaica Theological Seminary, both in Kingston Jamaica. Her current GIDRTP research focuses on determining the long-term impact of COVID-19 in hospitalized and ambulatory Jamaican children at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

My broad research interests are in cardiometabolic health across the lifespan. My current research focus is on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-mediated cardiovascular disease, with a particular emphasis on the African context. I also have explored early-life nutrition—particularly high-calorie diets—on the emergence of cardiometabolic diseases to investigating the potential protective qualities of phytonutrients.

Taona Emmah Mudhluli As a PhD Student, Medical Scientist, and Lecturer specializing in Infant Microbiome research, I focus on investigating the effects of Non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors and Human milk oligosaccharides on the gut microbiota of HIV-exposed infants. My primary goal in this area of study is to enhance the overall health outcomes of HIV-exposed infants through a deeper understanding of how these factors influence their microbiome. I have received comprehensive training in Infant Health and Microbiome Research at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, which has equipped me with a strong foundation in this field. Additionally, I pursued further education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, focusing on Microbiome studies to broaden my expertise. To complement my research, I have also delved into EndoCannabinology through training at New Avakash International in Australia, expanding my knowledge base to explore potential connections between cannabinoids and infant health. Moreover, I have honed my skills in Bioinformatics under the H3ABioNet Bioinformatics Program, enhancing my ability to analyze complex biological data effectively. As a Fellow of the Mawazo Women in Science 2023 Cohort and HIV Research Training program, I am committed to advancing scientific knowledge and contributing to impactful research initiatives within the realm of HIV and infant health. I have been awarded numerous grants in my journey, including the Africa Research Excellent Seed Grant, the National AIDS Council Zimbabwe Research Grant and the DAAD in-country Research Grant.

Genomic viral surveillance facilitates the understanding of the epidemiological implications of viral pathogens in a population. Knowledge of its relevance, coupled with a research interest to understand the genetics of viral pathogens and their role in disease and immunological phenomena within their host, I have engaged in works geared towards launching genomic viral surveillance as a public health response mechanism in Jamaica, under the tutelage of Dr. Joshua Anzinger. My work in this area began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the sequencing of the SARS COV-2 virus. My Masters in Science degree further focuses on mapping and understanding the evolutionary and transmission dynamics of dengue virus- a tropical viral pathogen endemic to the Caribbean region- through whole genome sequencing. Research in these two projects has functioned to expand my skills and knowledge in sequencing and genomic analysis, heightened by training with Abbott Pandemic Defense team. My undergraduate journey and current employment at the University of the West Indies also facilitated the building of my practical skills in detection and characterization of microorganisms through engaging in molecular techniques such as nucleic acid extraction and hybridization techniques, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and staining procedures

Tungamirirai Simbini is a trained medical doctor with post graduate qualifications in Health Informatics and Information Systems. He has a BSc and MBChB degrees from the University of Zimbabwe. He has a Master of Science in Health Informatics from Oregon Health & Sciences University, U.S. Simbini has experience in Health Management Information Systems spanning 16 years at national and regional levels. He currently is a lecturer in Health Informatics at Africa University. He is the Principal Investigator for the Zimbabwe Human Resources Information Systems project supported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Simbini consults for the Republic of Malawi's Health Management Information Systems. He also is running a private company that develops software solutions in the health sector. Simbini is currently studying enterprise architectures for ways to improve the exchange of health information. He mentors university students in health informatics.

I am a holder of a diploma in Public Health from the University of Suffolk (UK), an Honors Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences with the University of Zimbabwe, a MSc Clinical Biochemistry degree from the University of Zimbabwe and am currently pursuing DPhil studies on Pharmacogenomics of antihypertensive therapy among PLWHIV at UZ. I am also a UB-UZ HIV-RT fellow.

Tawanda Tinago (Molecular Ecology) is a lecturer in the Department of Biology at the Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe. Tawanda is actively involved in studying the ecology of soil macrofauna in recognition of their value as a bioresource. He investigates soil macrofauna biodiversity through taxonomic assessments, genomic approaches, and ecological niche modelling. His research aims to document the i) diversity ii) nature and magnitude of threats such as climate change and loss of habitat due to rapid human development. His goal is to bring attention to soil arthropods, which have been overlooked by science, and promote their sustainable use in developing medicinal drugs and maintaining environmental health.