MLW’s Deputy Director Professor Henry Mwandumba has been honoured by The Royal Society, being named as the recipient of this year’s Royal Society Africa Prize.
The prize is given annually to recognise research scientists based in Africa who are making innovative contributions to the biological sciences, including basic medical science, which contributes significantly and to capacity building in Africa. Professor Mwandumba has been named as this year’s recipient for his novel work in the description of the TB phagosome in HIV infected alveolar macrophages and his leadership in the College of Medicine, University of
Malawi.
“I am delighted and honoured to receive this prestigious prize from the Royal Society in recognition of my contribution to science in Africa. I thank those who nominated me and supported my nomination, members of my research group, colleagues and collaborators in Malawi and worldwide, our patients and study participants and the funders who have supported and continue to support our work. Lastly, I commend the Royal Society for recognising and promoting scientific excellence in Africa through the Africa Prize.”
Professor Mwandumba, who is the Deputy Director of MLW and the Head of the Mucosal and Vascular Immunology Group, is an Honorary consultant physician at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, and at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in Liverpool. His research focuses understanding the effects of HIV-1 infection on lung immunity and predisposition to respiratory infections, especially TB.
He is also the President of the Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS), member of Council of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), Immediate Past President of the Immunology Society of Malawi (ISM) and Treasurer of the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ECSACOP). He has received support for his research from the Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (USA) and the UK Medical Research Council (MRC). He was the 2015 Cornell University’s Distinguished African Scholar and received the MRC/DfID African Research Leader Award in 2017.
