Dr James Chirombo

Biography

James Chirombo obtained his PhD in spatial statistics from Lancaster University in 2018. He then joined the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme as a biostatistician in the Statistical Support Unit where his primary role was providing statistical support and advice to researchers. In 2024 James joined Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) as a lecturer in biostatistics in the Clinical Sciences department.

Most of his work has been in vector-borne diseases with a focus on malaria. Currently, James’ interest is in understanding the shift in malaria burden towards school-age children. To this end, James is a trial statistician for a study in Malawi which aims to assess two drugs as potential prophylaxis to control malaria in this population. He is also a co-investigator on a Wellcome-funded project on climate impacts attribution and a Wellcome Discovery Award project about advancing methods of surveillance of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Research interests

James’ research interest lies in building spatio-temporal statistical models to characterise the impact of environmental and climate change on climate-sensitive diseases. James is also interested in understanding the role of human movement, both short- and long-term on the spread of infectious diseases.

Selected research publications

Tropical oceans drive variability in soil moisture and malaria in Malawi – Journal: Communications Medicine – Published: 30th May 2026

Mapping Malaria Risk Using Geospatial and AHP Approaches in Nsanje District, Malawi – Journal: Epidemiology and Infection – Published: 21st May 2026

A context-responsive health systems intervention improves the uptake of early infant HIV diagnosis: Controlled before and after study in Malawi – Journal: PLOS Global Public Health – Published: 21st April 2026

Genomic and statistical models to characterize Streptococcus pneumoniae transmission patterns in Malawi – Journal: Microbial genomics – Published: 9th April 2026

Exploring the importance and preference of sugar feeding behaviour of malaria vectors in sugar plantations of southern Malawi – Journal: PLoS ONE – Published: 6th March 2026

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