POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW
Dr Claire Calderwood
I am an Academic Clinical Fellow in Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College London. My research focuses on tuberculosis, multimorbidity and global respiratory health. I use epidemiology and mixed-methods implementation science to understand how respiratory infections interact with long-term conditions and to develop person-centred approaches to care. My work primarily is across the UK and Zimbabwe, informed by my Wellcome-funded PhD in Epidemiology for which I was based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK and the Biomedical Research & Training Institute, Zimbabwe. My clinical practice is currently based at the Royal Brompton Hospital, UK, as a Speciality Trainee in Respiratory and General Internal Medicine, currently. I am committed to improving lung health and outcomes for vulnerable populations through clinically informed, systems-focused research.
Dr Rudo Chingono
I am a Social Scientist and global mental health researcher based at The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe at BRTI. I have a PhD, with University College London, which focused on the burden of maternal mental health on mother’s living with HIV and its impact on their parenting abilities. My work has included research on HIV/AIDS, mental health, adolescents’ reproductive health, maternal and child health, antimicrobial resistance and more recently infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases. I am currently the co-investigator on an UKRI funded study exploring the impact of setting up community hypertension groups in Zimbabwe. Recently, I was awarded the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene early career researcher award to co-design a mental health intervention that uses health promotion approaches in improving maternal mental health. I am one of the training and mentorship leads at THRU ZIM.
Dr Justin Dixon
I am a medical anthropologist whose research combines social theory and a range of methods to understand global health challenges. After studying anthropology at the University of Cape Town, I completed my PhD research at Durham University focusing on the ethics of clinical trials in South Africa. I am the social science coordinator of the FCDO-funded FIEBRE study in Africa and Asia. I am co-investigator on a Wellcome-funded study examining the effects of mass typhoid vaccination on antimicrobial prescribing in Harare. As a recently-awarded Wellcome Trust Humanities and Social Science Fellowship I will be working with a wide range of disciplines and domains of expertise to develop an interdisciplinary framework for tackling the rising challenge of multimorbidity in the global south. I am a mentor for the Fleming Fund Fellowship scheme in Zimbabwe.
Dr Chido Dziva Chikwari
I am an Epidemiologist with a background in Biomedical Science with Business. My main research areas are evaluating strategies to improve the implementation of HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health interventions for adolescents and young people. I am currently a study coordinator for CHIEDZA trial and the STICH study which is nested within CHIEDZA. I am also part of the planning team for the Youth Researchers Academy (YRA) in Zimbabwe.
Dr Nyasha Dzavakwa
I am a medical doctor currently serving as the Clinical Lead for the VITALITY clinical trial and hold a PhD from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). I obtained my MBChB degree from the University of Zimbabwe and am a WHO–TDR alumna of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, where I earned an MSc in Epidemiology and Implementation Science.
My doctoral research focused on treatment adherence among young people living with HIV, using electronic pill monitoring technology to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence. The study evaluated the Wisepill RT2000 electronic pill dispenser as an intervention to support adherence among young people aged 16–24 years with high viral loads (>1,000 copies/ml).
My professional interests include clinical research, implementation science, digital health innovations, and improving HIV treatment outcomes in adolescents and young adults.
Dr Felicity Fitzgerald
I am a Wellcome Senior Clinical Research Fellow in paediatric infectious diseases based between Imperial College London and BRTI, Harare. I am working on a portfolio of studies investigating neonatal sepsis infection control and antibiotic resistance based in the neonatal unit at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital with my collaborators Dr Gwen Chimhini and Dr Simba Chimhuya. Working with Professor Michelle Heys at UCL and the wider Neotree team, we introduced tablet-based electronic medical records using the Neotree application at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, and are hoping to extend Neotree to Primary Healthcare Clinics in the coming years. I have recently been awarded a Wellcome Trust Early Career Award and so plan to spend the next 5 years using Neotree data to develop an improved diagnostic tool for neonatal sepsis in Zimbabwe. Exciting times!
I am a public health professional with a strong interest in climate-resilient biomedical and biosocial solutions. I take a systems-level approach to public health and enjoy thinking critically about how research needs to evolve to address complex, interconnected challenges. I am passionate about translating research into evidence and leveraging data-driven approaches to improve global public health. I am an excellent communicator with proven analytical expertise, experienced in working within multidisciplinary teams across TB, HIV, and sexual health, both in Europe and globally.
Dr Constance Mackworth-Young
I am a Medical Anthropologist, with a research focus on young people, sexual and reproductive health, and participatory qualitative methodologies. My research is based in Zimbabwe, with THRU Zim where I am the social science lead.
I was previously based at Zambart in Zambia, where I conducted studies with young people, and conducted my PhD, explored the impact of HIV on the everyday lives of young women through ethnographic study in Lusaka, Zambia.
I hold an undergraduate degree in Biological and Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health and a PhD, both from LSHTM.
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Dr Jonathan Sturgeon
I'm a Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Infectious Diseases and a practising Paediatrician at Imperial College London. I'm currently leading a sub-study within the PROMISE trial, investigating how maternal sexually transmitted infections (STIs) impact neonatal inflammation, birthweight, and early growth outcomes. My work combines transcriptomics and biomarker analysis to better understand the inflammatory mechanisms driving poor early-life outcomes. I'll be around in Harare for the next few weeks, planning for when the babies begin to be born later in the year. I previously worked at the Zvitambo Institute in Harare for three years completing my PhD, where I focused on children with severe malnutrition.
Dr Edith Majonga
I am a postdoctoral research fellow with BRTI and a lecturer (part-time) in the Department of Medical Physics and Imaging Sciences at University of Zimbabwe-College of Health Sciences. I attained my PhD at LSHTM. I also hold an MSc and BSc in Radiography from National University of Science & Technology and the University of Zimbabwe, respectively. My current work focuses on vascular assessment using non-invasive techniques including vascular ultrasound, pulse wave velocity, flow-mediated dilation and peripheral artery tonometry in collaboration with Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London. I am also preparing for a study on myocardial disease characterisation using magnetic resonance imaging in young people with HIV where we will be collaborating with experts from Oxford Centre for Magnetic Resonance (OCMR), University of Oxford.
Dr Mandikudza Tembo
I am a public health specialist with a focus on menstrual health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health service delivery, and public engagement. Currently, I am a Reckitt Global Health Institute post-doctoral fellow leading an innovative project focusing on women and menstruation across the life-course and on the co-creation of a menstrual health toolkit with women, healthcare providers, and other relevant stakeholders in rural and urban communities across Zimbabwe. I am also the public engagement lead for THRU ZIM and am involved in several public engagement research projects including the Youth Researchers Academy (YRA) and Health Ageing. I hold a PhD (Epidemiology) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, an MSc in Global Health and Development from UCL and a BA in Public Health and Women's Gender Studies.
Dr Cliff Zinyemba
I am a Health Geographer with a PhD in Public Health from the University of Cape Town. My PhD characterized the role of climate change as a health risk perpetuating factor, focusing on pesticide exposure risks and endocrine disruption health outcomes. I have a keen interest in understanding the influence of contextual factors and spatial variations in health, health outcomes and environmental exposures. My research approach integrates qualitative social science methodologies with laboratory and computer-based investigative methods. I am currently a "Peter Piot Fellow for Global Health Innovation: Planetary Health" funded by the Peter Piot Fellowship for Global Health Innovation scheme within the Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health (CCCPH) at LSHTM. I am conducting a One Health study of WASH and Biosecurity interventions for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Zimbabwean urban backyard agriculture using a combination of microbiology and citizen science qualitative analyses. Before joining THRU-ZIM, I was a Lecturer in Occupational and Environmental Health in the Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe.
Dr Kalpana Sabapathy
I am a practising clinician and clinical epidemiologist working in international health since 2004. I have recently been awarded a Wellcome Trust fellowship to examine hypertension in early adulthood in Zimbabwe. I am also PI on a study examining community approaches to improving detection and monitoring of high blood pressure in Zimbabwe, funded by the Medical Research Council. I previously worked in HIV, as an investigator on the landmark HPTN 071 (PopART) trial, leading nested studies on the acceptability of the PopART testing and treatment interventions in Zambia and South Africa (2012 – 2019) and was Academic Clinical Fellow in genito-urinary medicine and HIV at Imperial College NHS Trust (2010 – 2012). I first worked in Zimbabwe when I was HIV Advisor for Medecins Sans Frontieres (2007 – 2010), working with colleagues to implement early antiretroviral treatment programmes in Epworth and Gweru. I mentor on B-MEntor which is a cross-institutional mentoring scheme for Black, Asian, Mixed and minority ethnic (BAME) academics and researchers, and I co-lead a cardio-vascular research group at THRU-Zim. I am committed to contributing to the capacity enhancement and career progression of my colleagues and other early career researchers.
Dr Tafadzwa Madanhire
I am a biostatistician and epidemiologist affiliated with the University of Bristol, with a strong research focus in public health, particularly HIV and nutrition. I currently serve as a Senior Research Associate in Global Health and Musculoskeletal Epidemiology, supporting observational and longitudinal musculoskeletal studies at the Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI).
I trained in biostatistics at the University of Zimbabwe, and my role involves developing statistical analysis plans and conducting advanced data analyses to support high-quality research outputs. My work contributes to strengthening evidence generation for population health and musculoskeletal research.
I hold a PhD in Epidemiology and Population Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). My research interests include HIV epidemiology, mechanistic modelling of bone pathways, and understanding skeletal growth in children.
Dr Edson Marambire
I am an experienced and passionate public health professional and researcher with a nursing background, holding a PhD in Medical Research and International Health from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) (2025) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Africa University (2021).
With over 15 years of technical experience, I have contributed extensively to HIV and TB prevention and treatment programs through collaborations with NGOs and the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe. Currently leading the TB research portfolio, I have progressed through roles coordinating, managing, and advancing multiple high-impact clinical research studies.
My work is driven by a strong commitment to improving infectious disease outcomes and strengthening public health systems globally.
Dr Farirayi Kowo-Nyakoko
I am a global musculoskeletal health researcher and a lecturer with the University of
Zimbabwe in the Department of Oncology, Medical Physics and Imaging Sciences. I
hold a PhD in Global Health from the University of Southampton, UK (2025) and an
MSC and BSc in Radiography from the National University of Science and
Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe.
My PhD research provided a comprehensive assessment of skeletal maturation in
Zimbabwean children living with HIV offering novel insights into the growth and
development patterns in this population. Building on this foundation, my current work
focuses on advancing musculoskeletal health capacity in Africa with a particular
emphasis on vertebral fracture assessment, osteoporosis and fracture risk
assessment.