Wiping out a widespread disease is a notoriously difficult challenge on a global scale and malaria is one of the oldest and deadliest diseases to affect humanity. Malaria exacts a huge toll on human health and imposes a heavy social and economic burden, particularly on countries in sub-Saharan African and South Asian countries. Whilst a plethora of new technologies have helped to shed light on the complexities of the parasite, our approach to vaccine design has remained fairly rudimentary. Faith Osier is a Professor of Malaria Immunology and Group Leader at the Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany and at the KEMRI–Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya. Faith’s focus on understanding how people develop a natural immunity to malaria and her research into these mechanisms have won international recognition and several prestigious awards. At Falling Walls, Faith will talk about her findings on the necessary conditions for our bodies to overcome the complexities posed by the disease. She will share insights into her team’s tireless efforts towards making the scientific breakthroughs that will eradicate malaria through better vaccination.
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BREAKING THE WALL OF MALARIA
HOW IMMUNOLOGY CAN UNLOCK THE KEY TO EFFECTIVE VACCINATION
Faith Osier
Faith Osier is a Professor of Malaria Immunology and Group Leader at the Heidelberg University Hospital in Germany and at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya. Faith’s focus on understanding how people develop a natural immunity to malaria and her research into these mechanisms have won international recognition and several prestigious awards. Her ultimate goal is to eliminate malaria for the health and economic empowerment of Africa. In the same vein she is committed to improving the prospects of African Scientists – a mission that will be bolstered by her recent appointment of president of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), where she will oversee an effort to train 1,000 African PhD students in immunology over the next 10 years.