Joined LSTM on 1st July 2015. Previously Professor of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Lived in The Gambia (3-years), Uganda (6 months), South Africa (12 months – on sabbatical) and Malawi (6 months).
- FRCP (2011, Edinburgh) (non-clinical fellow)
- PhD Epidemiology (2001, LSHTM)
- MSc Biometry (1990, Reading University)
Background in global health trials of management strategies for HIV-infection and associated co-infections. Currently focussed on studies on the prevention and management of HIV-infection, diabetes and hypertension, funded by the NIHR and EU.
Research grants:
NIHR. Controlling chronic diseases in Africa: development and evaluation of an integrated community-
based management for HIV-infection, diabetes and hypertension in Tanzania and Uganda. £4.0m.
Role: Principal Applicant joint with Prof Moffat Nyirenda, MRC/UVRI/LSHTM in Uganda. 2020-2024
Joint Global Health Trials Scheme (MRC/WT/DFID/NIHR). Fluconazole plus flucytosine vs fluconazole alone for cryptococcal antigen-positive patients identified through screening: A randomised trial. £4.5m. Role: Co-applicant (Principal Applicants: Dr Nelesh Govender, Wits University South Africa, and Dr Sile Molloy, St Georges University of London). 2021-2025
EDCTP. Preventing and delaying the development of diabetes in Africa: a randomised placebo controlled double-blind phase III trial of metformin in HIV-infected persons with pre-diabetes. £3.5m. Role: Principal Applicant. [This programme involves a large donation of investigational medicinal product from Merck Pharma]. £3.5m
Horizon 2020. Integrating and decentralising diabetes and hypertension services in Africa. £4.0m. Role: co-ordinator. 2018 – 2022
NIHR Global Health Research Group on prevention and management of non-communicable diseases and HIV-infection in Africa. Role Director. £2m. 2016 – 2021
Wellcome Trust Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit: addressing public health research. priorities through partnership. £5,000,000. 2012 to 2016. Strategic Award (co-applicant).
EDCTP (European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership). Approximately £3m. Reduction of early mortality among HIV-infected subjects starting antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania and Zambia: a randomised trial (The REMSTART trial). co-PI. 2011 – 2015
UK Medical Research Council. A phase III randomised controlled trial of oral fluconazole plus flucytosine versus amphotericin B-based therapy for one or two weeks for initial treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. Approx £3.0m. Role: co-applicant (PI Prof Tom Harrison, St Georges Medical School University of London). 2011-2017
Other relevant expertise, professional memberships etc.:
Panel member, Global Health (UF-5), Swedish Research Council (2015 -
Chair, EDCTP Scientific Advisory Committee (2008-2013).
Joint Editor, Tropical Medicine and International Health (2004 – 2015)