This project is part of the EDCTP3 programme supported by the European Union
This project is part of the EDCTP3 programme supported by the European Union
Dr Hellen Barsosio is a Kenyan medical doctor and clinical researcher at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) specializing in maternal and newborn health, with a focus on malaria in pregnancy and maternal immunization.
She has obtained degrees from the University of Nairobi, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Oxford. At KEMRI’s Centre for Global Health Research, Dr Barsosio leads maternal and newborn health studies under the KEMRI-Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine collaboration (KEMRI-LSTM), overseeing nine studies, including clinical trials and surveillance studies across five counties in western Kenya.
Her research section covers more than 60 study sites and involves over 35,000 women of reproductive age.
Dr Barsosio has established herself as a skilled collaborator in international maternal health research, working with over 20 local and international institutions. She co-leads multiple projects supported by major funders like EDCTP, Gates Foundation and NIHR. Her international influence is demonstrated through her co-leadership of the Maternal Immunisation Readiness Assessment network across eight countries in Africa and Asia, and her role as Africa Consortium Scientific Lead for the EDCTP-3 SAFIRE project.
Recognized with awards such as the 2022 Young Investigator Award from ASTMH, Dr Barsosio actively shapes maternal and newborn health policies through her participation in international and national technical working groups.
Within the SAFIRE consortium, Dr Barsosio champions equitable partnerships between global north and south institutions, promotes the inclusion of early career researchers in leadership roles, and advocates for gender equity in the inclusion of pregnant women in research.
Dr. Henk Schallig (Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Experimental Parasitology of the Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention at Amsterdam University Medical Center) started working in the field of Tropical Diseases almost 25 years ago.
His research is focused on the development, evaluation and implementation of diagnostic tools, as well as drug efficacy, safety and resistance studies, in particular in protozoan diseases like malaria and leishmaniasis.
His work is performed in close collaboration with renowned research institutes and hospitals in disease endemic countries, mainly in Africa and Latin America. Dr Schallig has extensive experience in managing multi -disciplinary and complex projects both in academic and industrial settings. He has successfully secured funding to support his research and his team from different funding organizations, such as the European Commission, World Health Organization, Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research, the European Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP), Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, industry and private funders.
Transfer of knowledge and capacity building are intrinsic to his activities and Henk has built extensive experience in training and conducting workshops. Dr Schallig and his team have trained numerous technicians, as well as MSc and PhD students from the Netherlands and developing countries. Currently, there are 10 PhD students working under his supervision, mostly from African countries and the Netherlands. He has over 200 publications in peer reviewed journals.
