Nesia is the Country Director at CBM International with over 20 years of expertise in International Development, Public Health Management, Health Education, Climate Change and Resilience, Disability Inclusion, Governance, Economic Development, and NGOs Management.

She serves as Hub Adviser for Sickle-Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCo) for Sickle-Cell-Disease-(SCD) program. She worked at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences to support SCD-Program as a Project Manager where she focused on systems strengthening.

She received a Fellowship for Master’s Degree in Business Administration-(MBA) Economic Policy and Corporate Strategy from Maastricht-University, Netherlands; Swedish Institute Diploma in Sustainable Business and Responsible Leadership; Scholarship on International Eye-Health Management from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK; Scholarship from Harvard University in Boston, USA, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute for Science-Eradicating Malaria and Public Health Supply Chain Management.

In 2021, Nesia was appointed by Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, Women as the Chairperson of National Taskforce to develop a National Strategy for NGOs Sustainability to implement directives provided by the President of Tanzania, Hon. Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Nesia worked as Senior Programme Manager and Acting Programmes Director, PSI Tanzania, on Maternal and Child Health (HIV/AIDS-Malaria-Diarrhea-Pneumonia, Nutrition). She developed a strategic plan for Essential Medicine Initiative and represented Tanzania at United Nations-(UN) Life-Saving Commodities steering committees and partnership networks in New York and Washington DC. She worked at British Council as Director of Programmes and Business Development, Acting Country Director. She successfully established a flagship youth-program and launched it in Tanzania and Chatham-House Royal-Institute of International Affairs, London, UK.

Nesia was appointed by UN Women-African-Women-Leaders-Network-(AWLN) supported by Africa Union, Government of German, Finland and Sweden for realization of Africa Agenda-2063. She served as a Chairperson for Young African Leadership Initiative-(YALI) and established a Tanzania Chapter

Professor Appolinary Kamuhabwa is a Professor in Pharmacology at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania. His area of interest in research is therapeutics and other pharmacological interventions in infectious and non-infectious diseases (cancer, and cardiovascular diseases). As a Professor in Pharmacology, he has carried out a number of researches including communicable and non-communicable diseases. He has over twenty-years’ research experience in Cancer, HIV, Malaria, and cardiovascular diseases research. He has received grants and collaborated with a number of local and international organizations and research institutions. He served as the Director of Planning and Development at MUHAS from 2007 up to 2015. He also served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Planning, Finance and Administration at MUHAS from 2015 up to 2017. He served as Acting Vice Chancellor for MUHAS from September 2017 up to June 2018. He is currently the Deputy Vice Chancellor responsible for Academic, Research and Consultancy (DVC-ARC) at MUHAS. As DVC-ARC, he is responsible for coordination, management, conduct and dissemination of research findings at MUHAS. His administrative, training and research background and experience have enabled his to acquire the required knowledge, skills and experience in the management of research projects. He has published over 95 publications in peer reviewed journals. He has served as a member of the National Clinical Trial Committee, currently a member of the Steering Committee for the National Institute for Medical Research, and board member of the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devises Authority.

Prof. Emmanuel Balandya is a physician-scientist with expertise in biomedical sciences, encompassing Physiology, Haematology and Immunology. He obtained his Medical Degree at the University of Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania (2005); Doctorate Degree at Dartmouth College, USA (2012) and post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School, USA (2014). Following his return to Tanzania, he has researched on immunity and infections in Sickle Cell Disease (through the NIH-FIC/NHLBI/UCSF Global Health Fellowship) and is currently PI of the NIH/NHLBI-funded U01 HL156853 grant titled Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO)-Tanzania, part of the larger SickleInAfrica Consortium involving Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. He is co-Investigator in several ongoing health research and education capacity building projects at MUHAS. He is published and has presented his work at national and international platforms. Prof. Balandya is also Member of the Organizing Committees for the MUHAS Scientific Conference and National NCD Scientific Conference in Tanzania; is Director of Postgraduate Studies at MUHAS; Board Member of Young Scientists Tanzania (YST), a nation-wide Science Outreach Programme, and consults with the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) on matters related to health research and education. He is a scientific reviewer for Tanzania Journal of Health Research (TJHR), Allergologia et Immunopathologia, Lancet Haematology, Journal of Community Genetics and PLOS ONE.

He practiced pediatrics and public health for 20+ years. His clinical activities span fieldwork with Médecins Sans Frontières in remote Africa to intensive newborn care at Massachusetts General Hospital. His interest in health systems fueled a portfolio of research at Harvard School of Public Health to support maternal and newborn health in low resource settings. As part of that work, he led the design and early testing of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist. Jonathan later directed the opening of Lao Friends Hospital for Children, the first comprehensive pediatric medical center in northern Lao PDR. He now heads Global Health Strategy and Access to Innovation at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, helping to bring new therapies from “bench-to-bedside” to address unmet medical needs for underserved populations in global settings.

Director of Curative Services at Ministry of Health, Tanzania
He is a seasoned Nephrologist and a pioneer in nephrology, nephropathology, kidney transplantation services and nephrology training program in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. Dr Ruggajo has published his works in local, regional and international peer-reviewed scientific journals. His research Interests include general nephrology, nephropathology, tropical nephrology, epidemiological outcomes, Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHADs) Model, Sickle Cell Nephropathy, HIV & Kidney and Registry-based Studies. He is a Country Research Coordinator of the NIH/NHLBI-funded U01 HL156853 grant titled Sickle Pan African Research Consortium (SPARCo)-Tanzania, one of the independent awards in the larger SickleInAfrica Consortium involving Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. In this domain, Prof Ruggajo exerts a laser-sharp focus on exploring the link between SCD and Kidney Diseases. Furthermore, he is an ardent community advocate against kidney diseases and sickle cell disease and an experienced member of the scientific committees in organizing local, regional and international. He is a frequent member and convener of various MoH Steering Committees for developing clinical guidelines, inspections, stewardship and quality assurance of health services in Tanzania. He is also a member of a number of local, regional and international medical & renal societies as well as the incumbent Vice President of the Nephrology Society of Tanzania (NESOT).

RESEARCH: 40 Publications, 124 Citations, 3260 Reads (https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Paschal-Ruggajo-2…)

SICKLE CELL DISEASE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, UNIVERSITY ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Lewis Hsu is professor of pediatric hematology at University of Illinois at Chicago with a career devoted to sickle cell disease (SCD), both clinical and translational research. His community engagement and volunteer service include Chief Medical Officer of Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) and global experience in Nigeria, Brazil, and collaboration with MUHAS in Tanzania. Hsu developed a lifelong affinity for interdisciplinary collaboration during his education at University of Rochester. During 25 years of experience in leadership of some of the largest sickle cell programs in the country, his immersion in “team science” led to over 100 scientific publications, including translational research studies on inflammatory pathophysiology, hemolysis, and cell adhesion in transgenic mouse models of SCD. He has been a clinical investigator in multicenter research studies in sickle cell, including a leadership role in a Phase 2 study of ticagrelor, and participation in the landmark STOP study of stroke prevention in SCD and landmark consortium on hematopoietic stem cell transplant for SCD. Current research includes improving delivery of SCD therapies using dissemination and implementation science plus global community engagement. He co-authored the “Hope and Destiny” books for family education on sickle cell and provides training for community health workers for sickle cell disease with SCDAA and with a pilot project in Nigeria. His experience in applying implementation science to sickle cell disease includes formal training from NIH TIDIRC program and applications to sickle cell disease in projects funded by NIH and by the European Union.

FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SCD PATIENTS’ COMMUNITY OF TANZANIA (SCDPCT) TANZANIA
Arafa is a sickle cell warrior and has been working passionately in sickle cell disease advocacy in Tanzania and internationally for over 12 years. She is the founder of the Sickle Cell Disease Patients Community of Tanzania, which was the first sickle cell disease patient advocacy organization in the country. This group is primarily focused on spreading sickle cell disease awareness, educating families affected by sickle cell disease, and providing hope and social support. Through digital outreach and in-person visits to sickle cell disease clinics, Arafa uses her own life experiences as a sickle cell warrior to offer advice and encouragement. She has also worked extensively with a wide range of media outlets in Tanzania, both on TV and radio, to decrease stigma and misconceptions around sickle cell disease. Beginning earlier this year, Arafa runs a weekly radio segment on Boresha Radio called “Sauti ya Shujaa” which includes interviews and education about sickle cell disease. Arafa has been invited and participated in many national and international conventions to cover the topic of the disease. She has served as a patient representative for medical conferences as well as community advocacy events across many countries. In 2012, she was invited and presented at Harvard University in the United States on sickle cell community outreach in Tanzania. Arafa has been recognized for her work as a community advocate and educator, including as the 2017 recipient of the International Sickle Cell Advocate of the Year Award by Sickle Cell 101 in the United States. She is a regular contributor to fundraising and charity events, such as hospital, and school visits. In recent years, she has turned her attention to building partnerships with other organizations fighting sickle cell around the world, especially in Africa. In early 2020, she participated in the launch of the East African Sickle Cell Alliance as the Tanzanian representative, alongside advocates and warriors from Kenya and Uganda. She is enthusiastic about participating in the growth of the Umoja Sickle Cell Foundation (UMASCCO) in her role as secretary.

Professor Julie Makani is in the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) (http://www.muhas.ac.tz). She is a Consultant Physician and Principal Investigator (PI) for the Sickle Cell Program.

Tanzania has recognized sickle cell disease (SCD), as a major public health problem and it has been included as a priority condition in the national strategy for Non-Communicable Diseases in the Ministry of Health. With global partnerships, Muhimbili has developed a systematic framework for research, integrated into health, advocacy and education. With prospective surveillance (2004 – 2016) of over 5,000 SCD patients, this is one of the largest single-center, SCD research programs in the world. Tanzania is establishing networks at institutional, national, regional (REDAC), African (Sickle Pan-African Network - 17 countries), and global level (http://www.globalsicklecelldisease.org). In order to develop platforms for advocacy, Tanzania has supported the Sickle Cell Foundation of Tanzania (2010 - 2018) and the Tanzania Sickle Cell Disease Alliance (Established 2016). Scientific themes include clinical research, biomedical research (including genomics) and public health [including ethics, social/behavioral science, population health and health policy]. The aim is to use SCD as a model to establish scientific and healthcare solutions in Africa that are locally relevant and globally significant.

Julie trained in Medicine (Tanzania) and Internal Medicine (UK), and completed her PhD in clinical epidemiology of SCD (UK). She has received several national and international awards for her academic and scientific achievements. She was a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow [Training (2003–2009), Intermediate (2012-2017), Tutu Leadership Fellow (2009) www.alinstitute.org and Honorary Visiting Research Fellow, University of Oxford (2003-2016). She received the 2011 Royal Society Pfizer Award for her work in using anemia in SCD as a model of translating genetic research into health benefit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd17odE1YLs. She is a Consultant Physician in Hematology and Blood Transfusion and Principal Investigator (PI) for Sickle Pan African Consortium (SPARCo)/ SickleInAfrica http://www.sickleinafrica.org/; Site PI for MUHAS for H3ABioNet https://www.h3abionet.org/ and Co-PI SickleGenAfrica http://sicklegenafrica.com/. She is a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of United Kingdom and Tanzania Academy of Sciences.

Associate Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Dr Gene Bukhman is a cardiologist and medical anthropologist who directs the Center for Integration Science at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Program on Global Noncommunicable Disease (NCDs) and Social Change at Harvard Medical School. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine and an Associate Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine. He is also the Senior Health and Policy Advisor on NCDs at Partners In Health (PIH) where he directs the NCD Synergies project. Between 2010 and 2015, he was the Senior Technical Advisor on NCDs to the Rwanda Ministry of Health. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Bukhman has argued that for those living in extreme poverty, NCDs are best understood as part of the “long tail” of global health equity that demands a new “science of integration.” He has translated this critique into practical delivery strategies that are now impacting patients' lives in more than a dozen countries. He is the author of more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters that apply a range of methodologies from ethnography and archival research to epidemiology and mathematical modelling to identify solutions to the problem of “NCDI Poverty.” Dr. Bukhman was the lead-author and co-chair of the 1996-2020 Lancet Commission on Reframing NCDs and Injuries for the Poorest Billion, and is currently co-chair of the 22-country NCDI Poverty Network launched in December of 2020 to support implementation of the Lancet Commission’s recommendations.

Francis Sellers Collins ForMemRS (born April 14, 1950) is an American physician-geneticist who discovered the genes associated with a number of diseases and led the Human Genome Project. He is the former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, from 17 August 2009 to 19 December 2021, serving under three presidents, and for over thirteen years.

Dr. Grace Moshi is a haematologist who has practised as a haematologist at various university teaching hospitals, in the UK, Australia, South Africa and Singapore. She is currently a senior consultant haematologist at the KK Women and Children’s Hospital as well being a senior consultant at the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), transplant support services and tissue typing, while concurrently being a clinical assistant professor at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore. She is also honorary a visiting lecturer at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania (MUHAS). Dr Moshi also sits on various Boards and Hospital Committees including 1) Executive Board member and medical advisory board member of the Bone Marrow Donor Program (BMDP) in Singapore, 2) Board member of the Haematology Advisory Council for the Royal Australasian College of Pathologists (RCPA) which guides post graduate education and fellowship standards, professional advice to the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) as well as to the National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC) of Australia, 3) Founder and Board member: Sarah-Grace Sarcoma Foundation (Australia) and Sarah-Grace Sarcoma Organisation Singapore.

She is an experienced specialist medical doctor, vaccinologist and Public Health expert with over 27 years’ experience in conducting and coordinating AIDS research and care for HIV patients. She is the Executive Director of Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC). She among the pioneers in prescribing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Africa. She has been at the forefront of scaling up HIV treatment in Uganda. She has been Principal Investigator and Co-PI for operational, clinical and epidemiological trials of HIV treatment and associated infections including TB, as well as intervention studies aimed at preventing HIV transmission and preparation for HIV vaccines. She spearheaded the development of the JCRC state of the art clinical and research laboratory equipped to perform a variety of tests and research studies including: molecular biology, HIV resistance, Tuberculosis, HIV vaccine trials, pharmacokinetic studies, clinical, and epidemiological research among others. She is the site PI for the Gilead Sciences Inc. studies and Co-PI for the JCRC Clinical Research Site (CRS) of the ACTG network. Program projects that she has overseen over the years included field work and extension of ARVs to the districts in Uganda. As a member of the AIDS Task force in Uganda and previously a Chair of the Uganda AIDS Clinical Care Subcommittee, Cissy was involved in planning and writing the first strategic plan for the national program to increase access to care and ARVs and the national ARV policy.

He is a Co-Founder, Board Chair, and Scientific Director of Caring Cross, Inc., a non-profit determined to accelerate the development of advanced medicines, such as cell and gene therapies, and to ensure access for all patients by organizing and supporting a community of healthcare professionals, scientists and engineers, community advocates and business leaders. Caring Cross works with organizations and companies that are committed to supporting access of curative therapies to all in need.

Caring Cross has research laboratory space and GMP manufacturing facilities at their headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD, USA. Caring Cross pipeline products include CAR-T cell approaches for HIV, hematologic malignancy, sickle cell disease, and cancer. The first-in-human trial of their novel anti-HIV CAR-T cell product has now begun to enroll patients at UCSF and UC-Davis (PI: Steven Deeks, clinicaltrials.gov NCT04648046). To support projects and activities, Caring Cross also creates companies, the first of which, Vector BioMed, will ensure the availability of gene vectors for Caring Cross initiatives.

Research in Dr. Orentas’ academic laboratory focuses on CAR-T approaches towards treating pediatric solid tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and osteosarcoma. He also continues to develop CAR-T approaches to hematologic malignancies. His work in academia, industry, and the National institutes of Health has led to 5 first-in-human CAR-T cell products that are currently in clinical trials.

Director, Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health
Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, MD, FACP, is an expert in cancer risk assessment and individualized treatment for the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, having developed novel management strategies based on an understanding of the altered genes in individual patients. She stresses comprehensive risk reducing strategies and prevention in high-risk populations, as well as earlier detection through advanced imaging technologies. She is a Co-Chair of SickleInAfrica Consortium of Sickle Cell Disease Research in 7 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Olopade is internationally renowned for her expertise in breast cancer, and her research has advanced early detection, treatment and prevention of breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease. A distinguished scholar and mentor, Olopade has received numerous honors and awards including honorary degrees from six universities and a 2005 MacArthur Fellowship (“Genius grant”) for “translating findings on the molecular genetics of breast cancer in African and African-American women into innovative clinical practices in the United States and abroad.” Dr. Olopade has received numerous honors and awards, including honorary degrees from North Central, Dominican, Bowdoin and Princeton universities. She is also a recipient of the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist and Exceptional Mentor Award, an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professorship, a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Fellowship and Officer of the Order of the Niger Award. Dr. Olopade is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society and the National Academy of Sciences. She currently serves on the board of directors for the American Board of Internal Medicine, the National Cancer Advisory Board, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Cancer IQ and the Lyric Opera.

Accreditations & Qualifications
MD., MSc., PhD. and he is a Fellow of American College of Cardiology (FACC). He is also a Certified Aviation Medical Examiner by the Federal Aviation Authority FAA-USA.

Career

• CEO – MNH, October, 2022 to date
• CEO- JKCI), 2015 September, to September, 2022
• Head, Physician to former President of United Republic of Tanzania 2005 to date
• Faculty member of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) 2000 to date
• Faculty member of Medical University of South Carolina, USA 2003 to date

Corporate Governance experience

• Council Member MUHAS - October, 2022 to date
• Board Member Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute – October, 2022 to date
• Board Member Ocean Road Cancer Institute October, 2022 to date
• Board Member SUA 2015 - to date)
• Senior Researcher Scientist HIV Vaccine Trial (TaMoVac) 1998-2002
• Medical Director at the Madaktari Africa, a USA based NGO (Tanzania)
• Board member Simba Sports Club Limited

Note

• Prof. Janabi has made 53 publications
• Prof. has a good command of Kiswahili, English, Russian and Japanese
• He is a husband and a father of four (4)