Horn of Africa Malaria Molecular Surveillance (HAMMS)

Horn of Africa Malaria Molecular Surveillance is a longitudinal surveillance of diagnostic, drug, and insecticide resistance. It will help to establish a university-malaria program network for surveillance of converging biological threats of malaria in the Horn of Africa and demonstrate a model for real-time and granular molecular surveillance data to inform policy by identifying locally informative genetic targets and adopting and customizing a highly sensitive, targeted, and multiplexed Plasmodium and Anopheles genotyping toolkit.

Researchers

Dr. Fitsum G. Tadesse

Dr. Fitsum G. Tadesse, a PI of the HAMMS project, is the team leader at the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute. He works on Plasmodium parasite transmission from humans back to mosquitoes and aims to inform malaria elimination strategies. He showed the tremendous contribution of Anopheles stephensi, an invasive mosquito species to malaria transmission in Africa and developed a national action plan for its control in Ethiopia. He is presently engaged in studying parasitemia, gametocytemia, and immune factors in Plasmodium vivax infection through his Wellcome Trust Fellowship. Other intervention strategies are in the realm of research on Plasmodium falciparum parasites with hrp2/3 gene deletions. Dr. Tadesse was awarded the Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellowship and the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Alan Magill Fellowship. He conducts international collaborations with advanced molecular analyses.

Prof. Bryan Greenhouse

Professor Bryan Greenhouse is a Co-PI of the HAMMS project and a leading researcher focused on the transmission and immunity of malaria. His work touches on why some people are capable of inserting subclinical malaria parasites and never falling ill for it. He applies novel, creative methods in laboratory and analytical techniques to field studies in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on malaria diagnostics, the development of antibody-based tools, and improving knowledge of naturally acquired immunity. Committed to democratizing access to malaria genomics, Professor Greenhouse leads efforts to improve analytics and create training resources. His lab, located at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, co-leads the UCSF EPPI center. He is also dedicated to teaching and mentoring emerging scientists in the field.

Prof. Susana Campino

Prof. Susana Campino, Co-Principal Investigator of the HAMMS project, is a Professor of Genomics and Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Her research areas include bacteria, disease control, drug resistance, global health, insects, methodology, outbreaks, parasites, statistical methods, surveillance, vector control, and virology. She focuses on diseases such as dengue, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis, infectious diseases, and zoonoses. Her selected publications cover topics like molecular barcodes for Plasmodium vivax malaria, the genetic diversity of var2csa in Plasmodium falciparum, and potential co-acting risk factors for an unusual pattern of microcephaly in Brazil.

Mr. Gudissa Assefa

With more than 10 years of experience, Mr. Gudissa brings innovative and effective solutions to the Malaria Elimination Program at the Federal Ministry of Health by aligning malaria strategy with the requirements of organizational structure, talent, leadership development, and planning. Mr. Gudissa Assefa holds an MPH in Health Systems Policy and Management. He has been a chief expert of the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) at the Diseases Prevention & Control Directorate of the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, since August 21, 2013. He is currently the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) Manager at the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia. As Program Manager, his responsibilities include managing all aspects of the program and collaborating with donors, civil societies, and international development organizations at the national level. Mr. Gudissa has facilitated the planning, monitoring, and implementation of the National Malaria Elimination strategy and provided training on various malaria-related topics, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and elimination. He coordinated and supervised the malaria elimination baseline assessment in districts targeted for elimination in Ethiopia, in collaboration with research institutions such as the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and co-authored several malaria operational research studies. He also serves as Chair of the National Malaria Elimination Program Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and various malaria technical working groups, and is a member of the Ethiopian Malaria Research Network.

Fadwa Mohammed Saad Mohammed

Fadwa Mohammed Saad Mohammed is an experienced public health manager and educator with seven years of experience. She currently manages the national malaria control program in Sudan, where she plans and spearheads nationwide surveys, reviews, and research projects. Her responsibilities include building and training teams, mobilizing resources, establishing national and international partnerships, and representing the country at international meetings and conferences. As a senior lecturer at the University of Khartoum, she designs syllabi and teaching materials, teaches tutorials, lectures, and seminars, supervises research for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and publishes in peer-reviewed journals. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Medicine, a Master of Public Health, and a Medical Doctorate in Community Health. With her expertise and leadership skills, she is confident in her ability to drive progress and make a significant impact on any public health initiative.