Dr Beshir is a genomic epidemiologist with a background in Biology, Medical Parasitology and Biomedical Science.
Dr Beshir's research work focuses on understanding how malaria parasites evade drug attack (become resistant) and escape detection by rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs)and become undetectable. To achieve this, we continuously work on the development of new and fit-for-purpose molecular and genomic tools to detect and monitor these new malaria parasite population. Dr Beshir has previously worked on the development of affordable COVID-19 testing assays that can be used in Low and Middle Income Countries, and supported LMIC countries with COVID-19 vaiant detections using NGS genomics.
Dr Beshir previously worked on EDCTP-funded WANECAM project on Clinical trial of four Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACT) in west Africa. Dr Beshir also worked on molecular evaluation of the efficacy of ACTs as well as Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) therapies in West Africa. In both projects, Dr Beshir worked on development of new molecular tools to monitor the emergence of drug resistance parasites to both ACTs and SMCs.
Dr Beshir is also involved in teaching both within LSHTM and externally, and supervision of MSc and PhD students. Dr Beshir is also a member of LSHTM ethics commitee and co-chair of EDI in ITD Faculty.
Affiliations
Centres
Teaching
Research
Dr. Beshir's lab is dedicated to investigating the biological threats posed by pathogens like malaria parasites and their impact on disease control efforts. Our research specifically focuses on understanding how these pathogens evade detection (diagnostic resistance), resist drug treatments (drug resistance), and how genetic changes affect their fitness and virulence (pathogenesis). To address these challenges, we continuously develop high-throughput, cutting-edge genomic tools, which we share with the global malaria research community, particularly with institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Selected Publications
