Sir Alimuddin Zumla, KBE , [12] FRCP, FRCPath, FRSB (born 15 May 1955) is a British-Zambian professor of infectious diseases and international health at University College London Medical School. [13] [14] He specialises in infectious and tropical diseases, clinical immunology, and internal medicine, with a special interest in HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections (including COVID-19 and Tuberculosis), and diseases of poverty. [15] [16] He is known for his leadership of infectious/tropical diseases research and capacity development activities. [17] He was awarded a Knighthood in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honours list for services to public health and protection from infectious disease. [12] In 2012, he was awarded Zambia's highest civilian honour, the Order of the Grand Commander of Distinguished services - First Division. [18] In 2023, for the sixth consecutive year, Zumla was recognised by Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science as one of the world's top 1% most cited researchers. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] In 2021 Sir Zumla was elected as Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences. [25] [26]
Alimuddin "Ali" Zumla was born in Northern Rhodesia (now Chipata, Eastern Province, Zambia). [27] His parents Ismail and Aman Zumla were of Gujarati Indian origin. [28] He resided in the Kamwala district of Lusaka. He did his early education at the Lotus Primary School and Prince Philip Secondary School (now Kamwala Secondary School) in Lusaka, and his medical training at the University of Zambia's School of Medicine. [29] As a teenager, he declined a Rhodes Scholarship in order to pursue medical training in Zambia. [30]
In 1980, Zumla moved to London to pursue an MSc in tropical medicine at the University of London. [27] In 1982, he contracted life-threatening tuberculous meningitis, and was told that he would never walk again, but went on to recover and return to work a year and a half later despite disabling and painful neurological sequelae resulting from his meningitis. [30] [31] He went on to pursue doctoral studies on leprosy human monoclonal antibodies at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where his 1987 dissertation (advised by Keith McAdam) merited him the Alan Woodruff Medal. [27] [32] [33]
Zumla spent a year at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine gaining the MSc degree in Clinical Tropical Diseases with a distinction and the Murgratroyd Prize. He subsequently worked at The Royal Northern and Royal Free Hospitals under the mentorship of David Geraint James obtaining his Membership of The Royal College of Physicians of London.[ citation needed ]
After doing a PhD between 1985 and 1987, Zumla worked as infectious diseases registrar and at the Rush Green Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Romford under Ming Yong and Mervyn Medlock. Whilst working at Rush Green Hospital, he identified and notified the first cases of the 1988 Legionnaires' Diseases outbreak which he traced back to Broadcasting House, BBC, central London. [34]
Zumla subsequently spent four years in a senior registrar/honorary lecturer position at the Hammersmith Hospital, Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London under Sir Robert Lechler, and then two years at the University of Texas Center for Infectious Diseases working with Herbert DuPont. [27] [32] [35] He then returned to his native Zambia to work on AIDS-related opportunistic infections at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka before moving to University College London in 1994. [32]
In 2003, there were media reports about a paper of Zumla's in The Lancet discussing a new test developed by a team he led for monitoring CD4 immune cell counts based on dried blood samples. [36] Such counts are used in monitoring AIDS patients taking antiretroviral drug treatments; Zumla's subsequent work has led to development and evaluation of a range of rapid, cheap and more accessible diagnostic tests for TB and respiratory infections for use on patients in developing countries. [37] [38]
Zumla was the guest editor of the Lancet TB Series which addressed key issues around TB treatment and diagnosis. The launch was held at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva on 18 May 2010. [39] As of 2011 [update] , Zumla is the director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases and International Health at University College London Medical School, as well as a consultant in infectious diseases at University College Hospital. His research interests include tuberculosis (particularly drug clinical trials, biomarkers, MDR-TB and TB in London), HIV/AIDS, tropical diseases, respiratory infections (and rapid diagnostics thereof), endocarditis, biomarkers, and transrenal DNA. [40]
Zumla's work focuses on improving global health, especially for disadvantaged populations, with an emphasis on assisting poorer and disadvantaged peoples of the world. He established and directs a multi-country collaboration with several African, Middle Eastern, European and United States institutions on collaborative research and training program on TB and HIV/AIDS. [17] [9] Zumla and his collaborators have set up research and training programs in Africa, focusing attention on development of local infrastructure and capacity development. [41] Several of his doctoral students now occupy academic positions in institutions in Africa. [27]
Zumla has established north–south partnerships for TB research. His collaborations span five countries in Europe and 10 in sub-Saharan Africa, where he leads several multi-country research projects. His team's research findings have contributed to the development of WHO's management guidelines on treatment and prevention of TB and TB/HIV, and to improvements in the care of patients worldwide. [42]
In 2014, together with colleagues from Public Health England, World Health Organization, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Middle East, Zumla co-led The Lancet series on Mass Gatherings Medicine which was launched at the World Health Assembly of Ministers of Health in Geneva. This was a Series of reports about different mass gatherings: the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; the 2012 European Football Championship finals, hosted jointly by Poland and Ukraine; and the 2012 and 2013 Hajj. These reports set out the planning and surveillance systems used to monitor public health risks, and describe the public health experiences and lessons learnt for the planning of future events. [43]
Zumla played a lead role in defining the etiology, epidemiology, mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. [44] [45]
Zumla has served on numerous international advisory groups. He was Member of Court of Governors of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2007–2014), under the directorship of Sir Andrew Haines. [46] He was vice president of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2003–2005). [47] [48] He served as Vice Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership(2014–2016) [49]
On 7 April 2015, at an inaugural meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, Zumla and Markus Maeurer from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden led and established a new initiative, the Host-Directed Therapies Network (HDT-NET) consortium of 64 global partners to tackle global infectious diseases threats of multi-drug resistant TB and antimicrobial resistance. [50]
In 2020, Zumla was cited as a leading expert on the COVID-19 pandemic. [16] [51]
In 2021 Zumla was elected as Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences whose principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in developing countries. [25] [26]
In 2022 Zumla was profiled in the Lancet. [52] On the 12th October 2022, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene awarded Zumla the Sir Patrick Manson Medal, their highest mark of distinction. Zumla is the first ethnic minority recipient of this award since its conception in 1923. [53] [54]
Year | Category | Institution or publication | Result | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Weber Parkes Trust Medal and Prize | Royal College of Physicians of London | Won | Awarded triennially from 1897 for work in the prevention and cure of tuberculosis. | [32] |
2000 | Albert Chalmers Medal | Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | Won | Recognises researchers in tropical medicine or global health who demonstrate evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators, and other forms of capacity building. | [55] |
2003 | Windrush Award for Academic Achievement | African Caribbean Achievement Project | Won | The awards recognise talent and achievement in the African Caribbean, Asian and Oriental communities. | [56] |
2005 | Ibn Sina Award for Medicine | The Muslim News Awards for Excellence | Won | Professional of the year for medicine. | [57] |
2011 | Science Award | UK India International Foundation | Won | for outstanding achievements in science by a professional with origins in India. | [58] |
2011 | Spinoza Leerstoel award | University of Amsterdam | Won | for “Outstanding research & capacity development achievements in the global fight against TB and TB/HIV/AIDS” | [58] |
2011 | Kochon Prize and Medal | World Health Organisation (WHO) Stop TB Partnership | Won | Announced at the opening ceremony of the World Conference of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (the Union) in Lille | [9] [58] [59] |
2012 | Annual Science Prize | Karolinska Institutet | Won | For outstanding outputs in global health and infectious diseases | [8] [60] |
2012 | Grand Commander of the Order of Distinguished Services First Division | Republic of Zambia | Won | The highest Zambian civilian award. Bestowed on Zumla on the 48th anniversary of Zambia's Independence (October 2012) by then Zambian president Michael Sata for his outstanding contributions to infectious diseases research in sub-Saharan Africa, development of Zambia's health sector, and training of numerous health personnel. | [61] [62] |
2016 | Honorary doctorate | Karolinska Institutet | Won | To individuals for their important scientific achievements or significant contributions to the university or humanity at large. | [42] [63] |
2016 | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership prize | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership | Won | Won by a research consortium led by Zumla. Presented by Zambian President Edgar Lungu. | [64] |
2017 | Senior investigator award | National Institute for Health and Care Research | Won | NIHR Senior Investigators are 'among the most prominent and prestigious researchers' and the most outstanding leaders within the NIHR Faculty. Senior Investigators are appointed from NIHR Investigators through annual competitions informed by the advice of an international panel of experts. | [65] |
2018 | Annual global list of influential researchers | Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science | Won | World's top 1% most cited researchers. | [19] |
2019 | Annual global list of influential researchers | Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science | Won | World's top 1% most cited researchers. | [20] |
2020 | Annual global list of influential researchers | Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science | Won | World's top 1% most cited researchers. | [21] |
2020 | Mahathir Science Award in Tropical Medicine | Mahathir Science Award Foundation, Academy of Sciences Malaysia | Won | A Malaysian science prize awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to tropical sciences. | [3] [66] |
2020 | Dr Pascoal Mocumbi prize | EU-EDCTP | Won | Awarded to senior scientists, policy-makers or advocates for health and research | [2] [67] [68] |
2021 | Annual global list of influential researchers | Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science | Won | World's top 1% most cited researchers. | [22] |
2022 | Senior investigator award (Renewal) | National Institute for Health and Care Research | Won | NIHR Senior Investigators are 'among the most prominent and prestigious researchers' and the most outstanding leaders within the NIHR Faculty. Senior Investigators are appointed from NIHR Investigators through annual competitions informed by the advice of an international panel of experts. | [69] |
2022 | Annual global list of influential researchers | Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science | Won | World's top 1% most cited researchers. | [22] |
2022 | Sir Patrick Manson Medal | Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | Won | The Sir Patrick Manson Medal is the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's highest mark of distinction. It is awarded once every three years to senior experts whose contribution to tropical medicine or hygiene is considered to merit the honour most. | [53] |
2023 | Annual global list of influential researchers | Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science | Won | World's top 1% most cited researchers. | [70] |
"Everyone should hold hands together and move forward in the fight against killer infectious diseases"
Zumla has authored more than 700 publications and edited/published 21 medical textbooks, three of which are globally acknowledged classics: Manson's Tropical Diseases 21st and 22nd editions, Tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Clinical Reference which involves 156 global TB experts writing 104 chapters on all aspects of paediatric and adult TB, and Granulomatous Disorders co-edited with D. G. James. [71]
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. Around 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kill about half of those affected. Typical symptoms of active TB are chronic cough with blood-containing mucus, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms.
Sir Peter Karel, Baron Piot, is a Belgian-British microbiologist known for his research into Ebola and AIDS.
Tropical medicine is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that deals with health issues that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or are more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions.
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Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a form of tuberculosis caused by bacteria that are resistant to some of the most effective anti-TB drugs. XDR-TB strains have arisen after the mismanagement of individuals with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
Frederick Wabwire-Mangen is a Ugandan physician, public health specialist and medical researcher. Currently he is Professor of Epidemiology and Head of Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Makerere University School of Public Health. Wabwire-Mangen also serves as the Chairman of Council of Kampala International University and a founding member of Accordia Global Health Foundation’s Academic Alliance
The Manson Medal, named in honour of Sir Patrick Manson, is the highest accolade the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene awards. Started in 1923, it is awarded triennially to an individual whose contribution to tropical medicine or hygiene is deemed worthy by the council.
Soumya Swaminathan is an Indian paediatrician and clinical scientist known for her research on tuberculosis and HIV. From 2019 to 2022, she served as the chief scientist at the World Health Organization under the leadership of Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Previously, from October 2017 to March 2019, she was the Deputy Director General of Programmes (DDP) at the World Health Organization.
Christl Ann Donnelly is a professor of statistical epidemiology at Imperial College London, the University of Oxford and a Fellow of St Peter's College, Oxford. She serves as associate director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis.
Oriol Mitjà i Villar is a Catalan-born Spanish researcher and consultant physician in internal medicine and infectious diseases with expertise in poverty-related tropical diseases. He has conducted research at the Lihir Medical Centre in Papua New Guinea since 2010 on new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to eradicate yaws. He was awarded the Princess of Girona Award in the scientific research category. Currently at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Mitjà is conducting research on SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and strategies to control the infection at a community level.
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Elizabeth Lucy Corbett is a British epidemiologist who is Professor of Tropical Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Her research investigates the regulation of tuberculosis in HIV prevalent populations and improving access to HIV self-testing.
David Hurst Molyneux CMG is a British parasitologist who served as the Director of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (1991–2000), where, as of 2018, he is an emeritus professor. He previously held the Chair of Biological Sciences at the University of Salford (1977–91), where he also served as Dean of the Faculty of Science. His research and advocacy have focused on what are now known as neglected tropical diseases, and Michael Barrett credits him as among the earliest advocates of the campaign to focus international attention on this group of diseases in the early-to-mid 2000s.
Hazel Marguerite Dockrell is an Irish-born microbiologist and immunologist whose research has focused on immunity to the human mycobacterial diseases, leprosy and tuberculosis. She has spent most of her career at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where as of 2020 she is a professor of immunology. She was the first female president of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Jimmy Whitworth of the Wellcome Trust describes her as "a marvellous ambassador for global health and research."
Azra Catherine Hilary Ghani is a British epidemiologist who is a professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London. Her research considers the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, including malaria, bovine spongiform encephalopathy and coronavirus. She has worked with the World Health Organization on their technical strategy for malaria. She is associate director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis.
Eleni Nastouli is a Greek clinical virologist who works at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) and Great Ormond Street Hospital. At UCLH, Nastouli leads the Advanced Pathogen Diagnostics Unit, where she develops technologies for genome sequencing as well as studying how viruses are transmitted around hospitals. During the COVID-19 pandemic Nastouli led an investigation into infection rates amongst healthcare workers.
Ibrahim Ibrahim Abubakar is a British-Nigerian epidemiologist who is Professor in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London and Dean of the UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences.
Catharina Boehme is the Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Governance of the World Health Organization. She previously served as WHO Chef de Cabinet, and is known for her work in developing diagnostic tests for diseases such as tuberculosis and for advocating for increased testing for the COVID-19 disease.
Tuberculosis elimination is the effort to reduce the number of tuberculosis (TB) cases to less than one per 1 million population, contrasted with the effort to completely eradicate infection in humans worldwide. The goal of tuberculosis elimination is hampered by the lack of rapid testing, short and effective treatment courses, and completely effective vaccine. The WHO as well as the Stop TB Partnership aim for the full elimination of TB by 2050—requiring a 1000-fold reduction in tuberculosis incidence. As of 2017, tuberculosis has not been eliminated from any country.
Novel Njweipi Chegou is a Cameroonian molecular biologist who is a professor at the Stellenbosch University Immunology Research Group. His research considers pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. He leads the Diagnostics Research Laboratory. He was awarded the Royal Society Africa Prize in 2022.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), The Weber Parkes Trust Medal and Prize, 199 Vol 7 No. 3-page 5. Retrieved on 23 November 2014.