Associate Professor James Chipeta

Country: Zambia

Institution: University of Zambia School of Medicine

Research Areas: Cytokine Immunogenetics, Autoimmunity, Primary Immune Deficiency (PIDs), Vaccinable childhood infectious Diseases

Lab Website: www.smuth-mru.org.zm

The School of Medicine and University Teaching Hospital Malaria Research Unit (SMUTH-MRU) was established through a World Health Organization and Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM/TDR/WHO- A10631) post-doctoral capacity building returning grant awarded to James Chipeta in 2003 with a primary focus on clinical immunology related malaria operations research. Over the years at SMUTH-MRU, in our long-term research goals, we have hypothesized that there could be distinct T-helper types 1 and 2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine profiles in health that might be impaired in disease conditions. We have, indeed, in a series of publications demonstrated distinct Th1/Th2 immune profiles in health with a pattern of Th1 immune profile levels progressing with increasing age (Chipeta, et al, 1998,1999 & 2000) and also elucidated that this immune profile pattern is impaired in selected disease conditions (Zhang X-L,et al., 2000; Toyoda H,et al 2004;  Mutengo M, et al 2018). In our recent research focus, and in collaboration with local and international colleagues, the emphasis has primarily been in the area of host cellular/ humoral immunity, autoimmunity and immunogenetics with the majority of the studies focusing on immune pathogenesis of paediatrics disease conditions. We are currently investigating the role of cytokine gene polymorphism in Schistosoma Mansoni disease complications elucidating the possible involvement of IL-17A gene polymorphism in Schistosoma Mansoni associated severe hepatic fibrosis. SMUTH-MRU is also, currently, involved in a number of clinical and operations research activities mainly in malaria and Pneumonia for paediatric infectious diseases besides training capacity building activities.