Dr Wilber Sabiiti

Dr Wilber Sabiiti

Principal Research Fellow

Researcher profile

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 1736
Email
ws31@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

Biography

I am a biomedical scientist with interest in translational research, working on the interface of applied biological science and healthcare provision. My work takes a holistic approach from primary discovery and optimisation in the laboratory to addressing barriers of translating biomedical research innovations into policy and practice. Achieving this kind of work requires interdisciplinary approach and expertise, which I have achieved by bringing together international minds in various research consortia primary between UK and Africa but also continental Europe, Asia and North America. In recent years my group has focused on the development and optimisation of rapid tests for quantification of bacteria responsible for tuberculosis (TB) disease and exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  This work has resulted in the tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay (TB-MBLA), the first ever fully quantitative test for quantifying patient TB bacterial load and measuring the change of this load as patient responds to treatment.  Working with interdisciplinary team of researchers from UK, USA and East Africa, we tackled the biolgical and socioeconomic drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the impact of COVID-19 on antibiotics use and risk of AMR rise. Owing to the rise in epidemics of viral origin, my research portifolio has expanded to include molecular diagnostics for viral infections, vaccine development and access in low resource settings. Besides research I teach Introductory Epidemiology, Respiratory infections, and tuberculosis pathology, diagnosis and treatment to Bachelor of Medicine- and Interdisciplinary approaches to solving global health challenges to Master of International development- students. I contribute to advancement of research through guest/academic editorship (Frontiers Cellualar & Infection Microbiology, Frontiers Antibiotics, East African Science, and PLoS Global Public Health) and over 20 peer reviews per year for several academic journals. In addition I am member of fulculties of experts for different funding streams including UKRI Applied Global Health, South Africa Medical Research Council,  Africa Research Excellence Fund, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Academic Adviser panel, NIHR College of Experts for the Global Effort on COVID-19, and Newton Fund Biomedical Sciences. I am Co-Chair Immunology & Diagnostics Working Group of the Coalition for Equitable Research in Low Resource Settings (CERCLE), Co-Chief Investigator Africa Vaccine Research Network (AFRIVAXn), Co-ordinator St ANdrews-Africa Health Research newtork (StAAHR) and a TDR/WHO Antimicrobial resitance Knowledge management consultant. 

Selected publications

 

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