Maria-Gloria Basáñez

Professor Maria-Gloria Basáñez is a Professor of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) at Imperial College London's School of Public Health. She leads work with the NTD Modelling Consortium, applying mathematical modelling to assess intervention impacts on NTD infection and disease burden. Her research focuses on bridging epidemiological analysis with public health policy, particularly in NTD-endemic regions.

Her professional inspiration includes Dr. Mwelecele Malecela, a pioneering Tanzanian medical scientist and former WHO NTD Director-General. Basáñez advocates for gender equity in STEM, emphasizing the critical role of digital education and data science in empowering African women in infectious disease modelling. She actively mentors young scientists in Africa, as highlighted by a colleague’s International Women’s Day tribute recognizing her advocacy for women’s opportunities in the field.

Her work integrates computational tools with global health challenges, emphasizing evidence-based strategies to combat NTDs while addressing systemic inequities in technological access.