Dr. Helmut Adrian Nyawale
Head of the DepartmentDr. Helmut A Nyawale (MD,Mmed) is a medical doctor who is specialized in clinical microbiology and Immunology. He has been working as a consultant microbiologist and senior lecturer at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences(CUHAS) and Bugando Medical Centre(BMC). Dr. Nyawale has been researching on antimicrobial resistance and epidemiology of RNA viruses.Dr Nyawale has supervised a number of undergraduates and post graduate students. He is an active Fleming fund alumnus and mentor in ALF-A fellowship programme run by commonwealth pharmaceutical association (CPA). Dr. Nyawale has contributed to and co-authored more than 20 scientific articles in peer reviewed journals
Prof. Stephen E. Mshana
ProfessorStephen E. Mshana is a professor of Clinical Microbiology and Consultant Clinical Microbiologist at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), and the Bugando Medical Centre (BMC). He is currently a Deputy Vice Chancellor- Planning, Finance and Administration (DVC-PFA) at CUHAS. He is also a member of National antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Multi-sectoral Coordinating Committee (MCC) and chairperson of Tanzania National Immunization Technical Advisory Group. To date, he has mentored a good number of undergraduate, masters and PhD students in the field of infectious diseases. He has examined a good number of postgraduate students and has served as External examiner in various universities in East Africa.
Dr. Martha Fidelis Mushi
Senior LecturerMartha F. Mushi, is a Senior Lecturer of Microbiology and Immunology and a consultant medical mycologist at CUHAS and Bugando Medical Centre, earned her PhD in Medical Mycology from CUHAS in collaboration with the Institute of Medical Microbiology in Göttingen, Germany. She coordinates the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences and the MSc in Clinical Microbiology and Diagnostic Molecular Biology programs, showcasing her leadership skills. As an ambassador for GAFFI and a member of ISHAM and the Pan African Mycology Working Group, she is committed to addressing fungal infections globally. Martha’s work in education, research, and public health, along with her advocacy for fungal infection awareness, prevention, and treatment, underscores her dedication to advancing medical mycology, infectious diseases, and public health.
Ms. Prisca Damiano
StaffMs. Prisca Damiano (Bpharm, MSc) is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. She specializes in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With extensive experience in developing and implementing IPC programs, Ms. Damiano has significantly contributed to reducing healthcare-associated infections and combating AMR. Her expertise includes conducting surveillance, data collection, and interpretation to enhance quality improvement initiatives. Ms. Damiano is known for her robust application of IPC principles, practical hands-on approach, and ability to translate technical concepts into practical advice for field use. She is dedicated to fostering a safe and infection-free healthcare environment.
Mr. Vitus Silago
Assistant Research FellowMr. Vitus Silago (BMLS; M. Phil.) is a Health Laboratory Scientist currently serving as an Assistant Research Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He specializes in the molecular epidemiology of bacterial infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. With extensive experience in analyzing the genetic mechanisms of resistance in bacterial pathogens, Mr. Silago has contributed significantly to the understanding of antibiotic resistance trends. His expertise encompasses laboratory diagnostics, surveillance, and the implementation of advanced molecular techniques. Dedicated to improving public health, he actively engages in research projects that aim to combat the global threat of antimicrobial resistance through innovative and practical solutions.
Prof. Mariam Mwinjuma Mirambo
StaffMariam M. Mirambo (BVM, M.Sc., PhD) is Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases. She is one of the two members involved in establishing the department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Bugando School of Medicine (WBSOM). For more than 16 years she has been involved in various projects focusing mainly on infectious diseases. Currently, she saves as Associate Dean (Biomedical Sciences) at Weill Bugando School of Medicine (WBSOM). To date, she has mentored >100 undergraduate and >25 postgraduate students in the field of infectious diseases. Her current research interests include sero-epidemiology of viral infections particularly vaccine preventable diseases, sexually transmitted infections and zoonotic disease of public health importance. She has contributed and co-authored more than 130 scientific articles in peer reviewed journals with Google scholar h-index of 28 and i-10-index of 53. Prof Mirambo has led several teams in translation of research findings into policy briefs including; Strategic Rubella vaccination to control Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), Introduction of Mumps virus vaccine, Improving syphilis diagnosis and Screening of viral infections in pregnant women etc. She is a member of various committees within and outside the institution including Zika contingency plan, technical working group under One Health programme in Tanzania etc.
Prof. Jeremiah Seni
Associate ProfessorI am an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at CUHAS and Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in Mwanza - Tanzania, and currently serving as the Director of Postgraduate Studies at CUHAS since 2018. I previously served as the Associate Dean – Weill Bugando School of Medicine (January 2018 – November 2018), and Head of Department of Microbiology and Immunology (July 2014- January 2018). The two institutions provide tertiary health care services to over 20 million people in the Northwestern part of Tanzania. My fifteen years of clinical and research experience has been on delineation of transmission dynamics and impact assessment of multi-drug resistant pathogens of public health importance, setting-up hospital-based antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) surveillance systems, evaluating cost-effective diagnostics, developing evidence-based guidelines on infectious diseases treatment, prevention and control. I have provided technical expertise and leadership roles in various programs/projects in Tanzania, African countries and globally through which multi-sectoral coordination, governance and implementation frameworks were fostered, including contribution in the development of WHO Global AMR Research Agenda in the human health sector, June 2023. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/global-research-agenda-for-antimicrobial -resistance-in-human-health. I participated in the development and implementation of the Tanzania National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2017-2022); and the current one from 2023-2028. I have three roles namely; member of the Tanzania Multisectoral Coordinating Committee on AMR (AMR-MCC), National Chairperson of the AMS technical working group (TWG), and AMR Surveillance Lead at BMC. I am a Co-Lead in the CUHAS/BMC Emergency Preparedness and Response Team for COVID-19 and other emerging & re-emerging infectious diseases since March 2020. I have supervised and reviewed/examined research projects and dissertations/theses for over 200 students (at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa. I serve as a reviewer in many international scientific peer reviewed journals. I have provided consultancy services to the Ministry of Health - Tanzania, the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Qualifying the Workforce for AMR Surveillance in Africa and Asia (QWArS) through Fleming Fund Regional Grant; The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC); International Center for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), USAID Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS), Mwanza Interventional Trial Unit (MITU) of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Therefore, I have an overarching expertise ranging from Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Research, Public/Global Health Research and Administrative roles; and as a result, I have published over 100 scientific reports (peer reviewed research articles, technical and consultant reports).