Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
The Helse Nord Clinical Research and Training Initiative (HNTI) is a capacity building programme at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Blantyre, Malawi, that aims to build research capacity and promote good health and well-being through the conduct of excellent research in infectious diseases including tuberculosis, HIV, maternal infections and antimicrobial stewardship. Established in 2011, the programme has produced 5 PhDs, with 7 more on track to finish, and 13 Masters degrees, and supports trainees of all levels.
Dr. Hussein Hassan Twabi
Dr. Hussein Twabi (MBBS, MSc, PhD pending) is a researcher and Lecturer of Epidemiologist with the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS). Hussein Twabi has 6 years’ experience in the conduct of diagnostic and therapeutic cluster randomised and individually randomised trials in Malawi, with several peer-reviewed publications and national and international policy contributions. He is also a member in the Global Fund supported African consortium named Partnership to Enhance Technical Support for Analytical Capacity and Data Use in East and Southern Africa (PERSUADE II), and two EDCTP supported TB trial consortiums named The Pan-African Consortium for the Evaluation of Antituberculosis Antibiotics (PanACEA) and the Simplifying treatment for drug-sensitive and -resistant tuberculosis (SIMPLICI-TB).
Dr. Madalo Mukoka
Dr. Madalo Mukoka is an epidemiologist with 6 years of experience in the design and management of randomized trials and observational studies in collaboration with various stakeholders. Her experience spans from protocol development, development of data collection tools, study coordination, management of study teams, data analysis, report writing and dissemination.
Dr. Mphatso Mwapasa
Dr. Mphatso Mwapasa is a public health expert with extensive experience in project management, coordination, budget oversight, and clinical trial monitoring. He has a strong record in research, strategic planning, and negotiation, achieving results in high-pressure, target-driven settings.
He has served as Scientific Operations Administrator for the Helse Nord Tuberculosis Initiative at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Research Fellow with the Global Health Bioethics Network at the University of Oxford, and Biomarker Coordinator at Population Council/Invest in Knowledge Initiative. He also worked as a postdoctoral intern at NTNU under the EDCMET project and currently serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Maternal and Neonatal Health at MUST (0.2 FTE) and Scientific Coordinator for the MUST–Helse Nord TB Research Group (0.3 FTE).
Dr. Mwapasa holds a PhD from NTNU, MSc in Clinical Trials (LSHTM), MPH, BSc in Environmental Science & Technology, and a Diploma in Analytical Chemistry.