This project is part of the EDCTP2 Programme supported by the European Union (RIA2016V-1640)
Dr. Sophie Houard | European Vaccine Initiative
Dr. Flavia D'Alessio
Flavia D’Alessio joined the European Vaccine Initiative as Project Manager in September 2013. She obtained a joint PhD degree in biology in 2012 from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Heidelberg University, where she also continued her work as Postdoctoral Researcher and attended a course in Project Management. Flavia holds a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from the University of Naples “Federico II” and carried out her Master thesis research at the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM) in Naples. Flavia has authored and co-authored scientific articles published in international journals.
Prof. Paul Kaye | University of York
Prof. Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye is Professor of Immunology at the University of York.
He trained in zoology (BSc) and immunology (PhD) and has worked for over 30 years on the immunology and immunopathology of the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis. He is internationally recognized for his research on macrophages and dendritic cells, contributing to a fundamental understanding of their biology in health and disease, and for his work on lymphoid tissue remodelling and granulomatous inflammation during chronic infection. Paul is a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator and an elected Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. He was awarded FRCPath by publication in 2004 and has published ~150 research articles and reviews, with many in leading international journals (e.g. Nature Medicine, Immunity, J. Clin. Invest., PNAS). Paul’s research tackles leishmaniasis from a holistic viewpoint, rooted in the immunology of the host-parasite interaction, but employing tools and approaches taken from many disciplines, including mathematics, ecology, vector biology and neuroscience. He has extensive links with leishmaniasis-endemic countries and is currently leading on Phase II therapeutic vaccine trials in Sudan, developing a digital pathology platform with colleagues in Brazil, India and Sri Lanka and establishing a controlled human infection model for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Prof. Joseph Olobo | Makerere University
Prof. Joseph Olobo
Joseph Olobo is a veterinarian by basic training and is professor of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. He has studied the immunology of diseases including leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis and tuberculosis. He established the non-human primate model for visceral leishmaniasis for drug and vaccine development. Together with other members of the Leishmaniasis East Africa Platform (LEAP), he is involved in clinical trials for anti-leishmania drug development. Initial trials by LEAP showed that a 17-day combination treatment with SSG/PM was as effective as the 30-day standard SSG. In 2010, the WHO recommended SSG/PM combination as the new first-line treatment for VL patients in eastern Africa. Partly through his efforts, the Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology was recently establishment at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University.
Dr. Margaret Mbuchi | Kenya Medical Research Institute
Dr. Margaret Mbuchi
Margaret Mbuchi is a Principal Research Officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). She has worked on host-parasite interaction, immunopathogenesis and diagnosis in human visceral leishmaniasis. Margaret has worked extensively in development and field evaluation of simplified molecular and point-of-care diagnostic tests for visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya in collaboration with EU (TRYLEIDIAG Project 2006-2009), World Health Organization 2011 (http://www.who.int/tdr/publications/documents/vl-rdt-evaluation.pdf) and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (2014-2018). She has also worked in collaboration with University of Texas Medical Branch to investigate the role of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-6 (STAT6) in human visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya (2014-2018). Current research interests include characterization of host immune response pathways aimed at identifying potential targets for drug and vaccine development against visceral leishmaniasis. Margaret also teaches at the KEMRI-Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (ITROMID) graduate school where she is in charge of the Cellular & Molecular Immunology Unit.
Prof. Asrat Hailu University of Gondar
Prof. Asrat Hailu
Asrat Hailu is a Professor of Immunoparasitology in the College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He has worked at various academic positions at Addis Ababa as Director of Research, and Head of Department. He supervises PhD students and coordinates a post graduate program in Medical Parasitology.
Prof. Asrat has a vast experience on clinical trials evaluating new treatments, diagnostics and vaccines. He has collaborated with DNDi to establish regional centres of excellence for clinical trials focusing on leishmaniasis. He is a member of various professional societies and global networks. His research focuses on parasitic diseases, especially NTDs and malaria; he publishes extensively in scientific journals. He is currently heading a research division of CDT-AFRICA (a World Bank Centre of excellence for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa, based in Ethiopia) as well being the Chair of the Health Working Group at the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences.
Prof. Ahmed Musa | Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum
TBA
Prof. Ahmed Musa
EDCTP Representative (Observer role)
Before the official start of their mandate, all SEAC members have signed a non-disclosure agreement, a declaration of conflict of interest and a declaration of commitment to the project.​