I got my MSc and PhD in malaria research. My research took place in the malaria research unit of a French Public Research Institute named IRD. I have worked in collaboration with scientists at Pasteur Institutes of Dakar, Senegal and Paris, France and scientists at Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal. In the framework of this collaboration, we made a lot of investigations on malaria and vaccine research and published many articles in International Journals and a book. Our findings in Dielmo led to the detailed analysis of the natural acquisition of prevention against P. falciparum and P. ovale malaria in endemic areas since the epidemiological characteristics of malaria here are representative of holoendemic regions of tropical Africa. The malaria vaccine project developed by the Institut Pasteur groups interacted through the International Network of Pasteur Institutes by trying to artificially reproduce the natural processes that lead to the development of immunity to infection and disease is in clinical
phase. As a postdoc at IRD, I conducted phase 3 and 4 studies to assess seasonal intermittent preventive treatment with artesunate and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for prevention of malaria in Senegalese children and artemisinin combination therapies safety, efficacy and effectiveness. Some of this research results form the basis of current malaria treatment guidelines in Senegal. These findings were also used
by the World Health Organization (WHO) for prequalification of the use of artesunate and sulfadoxine– pyrimethamine and mefloquine and sulfadoxine– pyrimethamine in seasonal intermittent preventive treatment that has saved millions of lives in malaria endemic countries. In 2013, I started a career as the head of the clinical operations team at Epicentre, the research branch of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Niger. MSF is an international humanitarian medical nonprofit organization of France. At Epicentre, I implemented and supervised several clinical trials including vaccine, observational studies and epidemiological surveys involving new diagnostic and therapeutic and preventive approaches in neglected tropical diseases including malaria, as well as initiating research projects laterally with other national and
international research institutes. In that role, a major accomplishment I am also proud was that I evaluated three commonly-used ACTs for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria (artesunate-amodiaquine, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and artemether-lumefantrine), and found that all three had good effectiveness. In 2014, I started a career as a Senior Research officer at The Malaria Control and Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), a program at PATH (an international, non-profit global health organization headquarted in US). At PATH, I led the development of malaria elimination protocols and conduct in rural communities in Senegal. From a public health perspective, the models we used had served to inform policies on how, where and when to implement different interventions against malaria to aid local elimination, and eventual eradication, of the parasite. Much of this work is collaborative with a
wide range of public health agencies. From 2016 to June 2019, I managed a Phase 2 Ebola vaccine in West Africa. In that role, a major accomplishment I am most proud was that we helped conduct the vaccine trial in 4 sites that have never been involved in clinical trials with the capacity of handling peripheral blood mononuclear cell Specimens called PBMC. I had the opportunity to work with an international consortium involving drug companies, funders, research institutes, WHO, CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) and universities from several countries. Our team at Johnson &
Johnson team involved a personnel from Africa, USA and Europe. From September 2019 to June 2020, I had held a project management role at Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a Swiss foundation. At MMV, I was involved in The goal of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) grant application to fund three clinical trials to test new antimalarial drugs and a capacity building program in 23 Sub- Saharan African countries. From July 2020 to April 2022, I had worked at Institut Pasteur de Dakar, as the research coordinator of the COVID- 19 research with the Ministry of Health and top physicians in the country. I have contributed in the development and evaluation of the Mologic, a U.K.-based biotech company, partnering with the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal to make
six ultra-low-cost tests: lab, clinic, and home versions of an antibody test that can detect whether someone’s immune system has been exposed to the virus, along with three versions of an antigen test that detects the virus directly. In April 2022, I joined the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) as an Assistant Professor and Clinical Trial Manager of the School research in Kambia, Sierra Leone.  As an Assistant Professor at LSHTM, I am also the head of the clinical trial unit of the LSHTM in Kambia, Sierra Leone. In 2015, towards the end of the  Ebola Virus outbreak in Sierra Leone, the LSHTM entered into a partnership with the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a new vaccine against Ebola Virus (Ad26.ZEBOV), developed by Jansen and Jansen (J and J), in a series of trials funded by Europe’s Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). Kambia was severely affected by the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic and was therefore selected as the site for a trial of the new J and J Ebola vaccine which is now nearing successful completion.

Based on the success of this trial the site was also chosen to contribute to an evaluation of a of a second Ebola vaccine (VSV) manufactured by Merck, with support from the European Developing Countries Clinical Partnership (EDCTP), and more recently selected by WHO to join a consortium  testing  a novel intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, the WHO-STV trial. The work, I have undertaken in Kambia has played an important role in gaining licensure of both the J and J and the Merck Ebola vaccines, and these have subsequently been deployed to curb the spread of recent Ebola Virus outbreaks in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our research center has conducted epidemiological studies including an Ebola seroprevalence study, studies assessing the prevalence of malaria and helminths and the effect of these infections on Ebola vaccine immunogenicity, and a study assessing SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and incidence in health workers. 

The site is participating in a large global HPV prevalence and incidence study (GLOBE-HPV) funded by the Gates Foundation to measure the global burden and risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, led by the International Vaccine Institute and LSHTM. The site has built local capacity in conducting vaccine trials and epidemiological studies with office, laboratory and data management facilities and data archives and a biobank and its own power supply. The research laboratory performs safety bloods (haematology, biochemistry, etc), and molecular, serological and cellular immunity analyses.

·       Number of Current Research Studies: 2 Clinical trials: 1 phase 3 trial (STV), 3 Observational studies: 2 studies (GLOBE-HPV and Lassa virus seroprevalence study).

·       Number of Previous Research Studies: 6 Clinical trials: 4 phase 2 trials (EBL2005, EBL2011, EBL2012, PREVAC/PREVAC-Up); 1 phase 3 trial (EBL3001); 1 safety and immunogenicity long-term follow-up study (EBL3005).

·       Observational studies: 4 studies (Ebola seroprevalence, EBL3001 malaria ancillary study, malaria and helminth parasitology study, COVID-19 HCW study).

·       A number of social science studies on community’s understanding, expectations, acceptance of various vaccine strategies for Ebola disease and community impressions/preparedness for future outbreaks. A pilot survey on staff turnover and vaccine acceptance amongst HCW in Freetown and Kambia district of Sierra Leone.

I am an WHO expert and assess vaccines for the WHO prequalification team (HQ/MHP/RPQ/PQT/VAX), and have assessed many vaccines including malaria, cholera, measles. Therefore, I can anticipate relevant activities during clinical trials that are relevant to prequalification and/or marketing authorization applications to WHO and regulatory authorities.

My role is ensuring effective conduct of many studies in the country working with the COMAHS of the university of Sierra Leone, INSERM France, MRC Gambia, MRC Uganda, Oxford University, WHO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MERCK and JANSSEN, European Vaccine Initiative, International Vaccine Initiative, Innovative Health Initiative. I play a lead in the processes through which proposals and grants are developed within our consortium. I am also working with, the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone National Ethics Committee (SL EC) and the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL). I have recently joined the Interventional ethics committee of the LSHTM. I have been teaching, marking student scripts and MS reports in the LSHTM malaria module. I am currently studying the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (PGCILT) at LSHTM. I am supervising a female PhD candidate at LSHTM and 2 PhD candidates at COMAHS, University of Sierra Leone. I also manage over 200 staff and budget over $ 10 million.

I have previously worked in vaccine trials in West Africa including Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cote d`Ivoire, Mali, Kenya, Tanzania.

Our site in Sierra Leone is a partner of the Clinical Vaccine Trial Capacity Strengthening in West Africa, a consortium made up of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) supported by CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations). As CEPI's mission to respond swiftly to future outbreaks including "Disease X" within 100 days of identification with a safe and effective vaccine.

I have got an excellent understanding of and established network with African institutions relevant for vaccine development, public health governance, regulatory authorities, interventional drug / vaccine implementation – at regional, supra-national and national levels (incl. but not limited to Africa-CDC, AMA, ECOWAS, WAHO, AVAREF, etc. …).