Lesley Scott

Lesley Scott is an Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), affiliated with the Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub in South Africa. She holds a PhD, MSc, and BScHons from the same institution and is actively engaged in research at the intersection of molecular diagnostics, infectious diseases, and public health implementation.

Her research focuses on the development, evaluation, and implementation of diagnostic technologies for tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and SARS-CoV-2, particularly in resource-limited settings. She has led and contributed to numerous high-impact studies on GeneXpert platforms, point-of-care testing, viral load monitoring, antimicrobial resistance detection, and laboratory quality assurance. Her work has been instrumental in shaping national and global diagnostic policies and surveillance strategies.

Dr. Scott’s recent publications highlight her leadership in integrating molecular diagnostics with epidemiological and public health data, including GIS mapping of TB dynamics, national use of Ct values for SARS-CoV-2 test quality monitoring, and tracking of Omicron variants. Her research spans technical assay evaluation, operational feasibility, and real-world implementation, making significant contributions to both scientific knowledge and health system strengthening.

Her publications appear in top-tier journals such as Nature, Nature Medicine, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Science, and JAMA, reflecting the broad impact of her work. She has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific works, including journal articles, book chapters, and preprints.

• Scientific Awards: No awards were mentioned in the provided text.

Dr. Scott is involved in advising and grant-funded research, particularly in large-scale diagnostic implementation projects, though specific advisees and grant details are not listed. She is associated with multidisciplinary teams and innovation hubs focused on improving diagnostic access and accuracy in South Africa and beyond.