Brain bugs, backpacks, and Beckham: A globetrotting search to understand cerebral malaria with Professor Sam Wassmer
Inaugural lecture of Professor Sam Wassmer
In this inaugural lecture, Sam will reflect on the journey that has shaped his research on cerebral malaria, one of the most severe and least understood complications of malaria infection. From his childhood in East Africa, where malaria was part of the fabric of daily life, to laboratories and hospitals in France, Malawi, the USA, India, and the UK, this has been a scientific path guided by one central question: what are the mechanisms that cause malaria infection to injure the brain?
The presentation will follow that journey in four stages. It begins with the early experiences that first sparked his interest in infectious diseases and global health. It then moves to the in vitro work in Marseille, where laboratory models helped us begin to untangle how parasites, blood vessels, and inflammatory processes interact. From there, Sam will discuss ex vivo studies in Liverpool and Blantyre, which brought us closer to the disease itself through work based on patient-derived material. Finally, he will turn to research in New York, Rourkela, and London, where clinical studies, neuroimaging, and biomarker approaches have allowed us to investigate cerebral malaria directly in patients.
At its heart, this lecture is about the gradual effort to move ever closer to the pathology itself: from simplified models, to human tissues, to the bedside. It is also a story of collaboration, persistence, and the value of crossing both geographical and disciplinary boundaries to better understand complex disease.
Sam hopes it will be of interest not only to those working in malaria or global health, but also to anyone curious about how scientific discovery unfolds in practice.
The lecture will take place from 17:15 - 18:15, followed by a 1-hour in-person drinks reception in the Pumphandle Social.
Speaker
Professor Sam Wassmer
Sam Wassmer (PhD) is a medical parasitologist, whose research focuses on the effects of malaria infection on the brain. He leads an international team of multi-disciplinary researchers in India, Switzerland, the US, Gabon and the UK to develop new diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches for malaria patients. He is a Steering Committee member and the former Co-Director of the Malaria Centre at LSHTM, which aims to connect and support over 300 malaria researchers internally and externally through seminars, social events and scientific retreats.
He is known for his innovative and collaborative work in malaria-endemic settings that integrates advanced neuroimaging, molecular diagnostics and artificial intelligence aimed at a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to cerebral malaria. His projects have been funded by the Wellcome Trust, the MRC and the NIH and have led him to work and live in Malawi, the US, and the UK. Sam is closely involved in capacity building through long-standing partnerships with research institutes across Africa and Southeast Asia. He also teaches at the School of Global Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (China), and is an Adjunct Professor at GLA University (India).
Sam is a Mental Health First-Aider, and a Steering Committee member of LSHTM Press.
Event notices
- Please note that you can join this event in person or you can join the session remotely
- Please note that the recording link will be listed on this page when available
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