Mr. Robert Kaaya
Is a Research Scientist and Research Quality Assurance Manager at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Pan African Malaria Vector Research Consortium (PAMVERC), Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) Moshi Tanzania? His expertise lies in molecular and immunological techniques. He has been involved in phase three clinical trials in malaria and arbovirus research for instance on projects aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of non-Pyrethroid insecticide-treated durable wall lining to control malaria in rural Tanzania and understanding the magnitude of Dengue and Chikungunya virus infections in Tanzania.
He is a member of the malaria molecular epidemiology team which is doing work on the surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum molecular markers for Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) drug resistance in Tanzania. Robert has been involved in collaborations with scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Ottawa Canada, Centre for Medical Parasitology (CMP) Denmark, and Building Stronger Universities (BSU). For his Ph.D. fellowship, Robert will explore the influence of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein-II gene polymorphisms and sub-microscopic parasitemia on mRDT performance in heterogeneous transmission settings towards malaria pre-elimination in Tanzania.