Alexandra joined LSTM following her veterinary degree (DVM) and her PhD studies in Parasitology. As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2022), she brings expertise in zoonotic diseases, parasitology, and the One Health approach, bridging academic research, education, and veterinary practice.
In her academic journey, Alexandra has undertaken fieldwork across Africa, notably in Malawi, Cameroon, Uganda, and Zanzibar, contributing to groundbreaking studies on parasitic disease ecology and zoonotic health risks. She leads the MSc One Health in Tropical Disease programme, focusing on interdisciplinary education for tackling tropical health challenges. Her role includes developing innovative course materials on zoonotic parasites and disease management, fostering collaboration between students and global health sectors.
Alexandra’s research interests span molecular epidemiology, zoonotic parasite transmission, and disease control. Key projects include the HUGS initiative studying hybrid schistosomes in Malawi, SHIS-CAM exploring parasite hybridization in Cameroon, and non-invasive disease surveillance in Ngamba Island chimpanzees. Her recent work in Zanzibar revealed zoonotic schistosome hybrids in cattle, raising critical questions for urogenital schistosomiasis control. She also leads preclinical evaluations of fusidic acid as a potential short-course cure for bovine onchocerciasis.
In addition to her research, Alexandra is an active reviewer for journals such as Parasitology and Veterinary Parasitology and collaborates with organisations like Knowsley Safari to advance One Health research. As a dedicated educator, she supervises students at all levels and contributes to professional development through workshops and short courses on molecular diagnostics and parasitology.
Externally, Alexandra engages with professional societies like the British Society for Parasitology, European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites and Hungarian Biodiversity Research Society and supports public outreach on neglected tropical diseases. Her mission is to integrate research excellence with impactful education, equipping the next generation of health leaders with tools to address complex global challenges.
Teaching
Alexandra’s teaching activities at LSTM include:
- Directing the MSc One Health in Tropical Disease programme.
- Lecturer on the following courses and workshops on parasitology and disease control:
- TROP707 Human Parasitology & Vector Biology
- TROP714 Parasite Epidemiology & Control
- DLTROP307 Climate change and health teaching
- Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Diploma in Tropical Nursing
- Short courses
- Laboratory Diagnosis of Faecal Parasites
- Laboratory Diagnosis of Blood & Faecal Parasites
- Supervising research projects that have led to publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Research Highlights
- HUGS Project: Hybrid schistosome epidemiology in Malawi.
- SHIS-CAM: Schistosome spp. interactions and hybridization in Cameroon.
- Ngamba short study: Intestinal schistosomiasis in chimpanzees.
- Zanzibar Investigation: Zoonotic schistosome hybrids in cattle.
- Fusidic Acid Study: Novel therapies for bovine onchocerciasis.
Professional Activities
- Reviewer for Parasitology, Veterinary Parasitology, and Parasites & Vectors.
- Collaborator with Knowsley Safari, Manchester University and Powis Castle on zoonotic parasite research.
- Member of the British Society for Parasitology, European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites and Hungarian Biodiversity Research Society promoting outreach and engagement.