Professor Francisca Mutapi

Country: Scotland, UK

Institution: University of Edinburgh

Research Areas: The immunology, molecular biology, epidemiology, comorbidity and control of neglected tropical diseases.

Lab Website: http://pig.bio.ed.ac.uk

Our work involves using basic science to inform NTD control and intervention programmes. The work includes field studies of parasite distribution, parasite genetics, host exposure patterns, immunity, genetics and microbiome structure and relating these to the epidemiology of the infection/disease. The research is focusing on developing better interventions based on enhancing the host’s immune protection (both innate and adaptive) and developing improved point of care diagnostics and molecular markers of infection/disease. In a research environment where most of the studies of human parasite immunology and molecular biology are conducted in mouse models, our work is unashamedly target oriented, being conducted in the natural human hosts and working collaboratively with colleagues in endemic countries in Africa. This has allows our work to progress knowledge of natural responses to the parasites. Our work has led to health improvements for millions of children in Africa. For example, our work led to paediatric helminthiasis policy revision by the World Health Organisation and contributed to the implementation of Zimbabwe’s ongoing 5-year national schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminth control programme.