Henry Mwandumba
Mwandumba is a clinical scientist based in Malawi and works with the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust (MLW) research program where he also serves as Deputy Director and Head of the Mucosal Immunology Group. His research focuses on understanding the effects of HIV on pulmonary immunity and predisposition to respiratory infections, especially tuberculosis. The research hypothesis states, ‘HIV modulates the function of alveolar macrophages making them more permissive to infection with TB and progression to active disease’. This work is prompted by the high rates of HIV and subsequently TB infections in southern Africa.
Mwandumba obtained his medical degree from the University of Zimbabwe School of Medicine and his specialization in General Medicine and Infectious Diseases in the UK. He takes up multiple roles globally including President of the Immunology Society of Malawi (ISM), President-elect of the Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS), Treasurer of the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ECSACop) and consultant physician at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. He is also the 2019 recipient of the Royal Society Africa Prize. |