معرفی
Francisca Mutapi is Professor in Global Health Infection and Immunity at the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, Deputy Co-Director of TIBA (Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa), and Senior Advisor to the Principal on Africa. Her research focuses on schistosomiasis through the 'Understanding Bilharzia' Programme in Zimbabwe, where fieldwork informs global policy including WHO treatment guidelines for children under five.
Education
- DPhil, Biological Sciences, Linacre College, University of Oxford
- BSc Hons, Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe
Research Focus
Her work integrates host immunology, parasite molecular biology, and drug pharmacokinetics within the host-community-health system ecosystem. Key innovations include biomarker discovery for schistosomiasis diagnosis and evidence enabling WHO to expand praziquantel treatment to preschool children, impacting 50 million lives. Current projects address pediatric drug deployment, infection-cognition links, and metabolomic profiling in Zimbabwean children.
Publications consistently bridge fundamental science with policy impact, emphasizing contextual implementation in African health systems and vulnerable populations.
Scientific Recognition
- University of Edinburgh Chancellor’s Award for Impact (2017)
- David Livingstone Medal, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (2016)
- Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE)
- Elected Fellow, African Academy of Sciences (FAAS)
- Elected Fellow, Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (FZAS)
- Future Africa Fellow (Robert Bosch Foundation)
Leadership and Funding
She chairs the NIHR Global Health Research Funding Panel and serves on Grand Challenges Africa's Steering Committee, overseeing multi-million dollar initiatives. Her NIHR TIBA unit develops sustainable infection control strategies across Africa, while her advisory roles with WHO and UK DFID directly shape global health policy. Mentoring includes PhD supervision and early-career researcher development through FLAIR fellowships.
Research Infrastructure
Her Edinburgh lab (Ashworth Building, Room 140B) coordinates the Zimbabwe-based 'Understanding Bilharzia' Programme with the National Institutes of Health Research and University of Zimbabwe. This long-term partnership enables field-to-policy translation, focusing on community engagement, diagnostic innovation, and integrated control strategies for neglected tropical diseases.
