Yakobo Leonard Lema is a distinguished researcher affiliated with the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanga, Tanzania, where he has contributed significantly to public health research from 2015 to 2023. His academic journey also includes a tenure at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in 2013, where he laid the groundwork for his extensive research endeavors.
He is a medical doctor and epidemiologist, as he holds a Degree of Medicine (MD) and a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Epidemiology focusing on tuberculosis and HIV. Mfinanga supervises and mentors fellows at a junior and mid-career level in various local and international academic and non-academic institutions. He has published over 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, including The Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine. He has expertise in epidemiology, clinical trials, and public health surveillance for infectious and non communicable diseases. Mfinanga is the Director and Chief Research Scientist for NIMR Muhimbili Cenre, Honorary Professor of Global Health at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Honorary Lecturer at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Dar es Salaam, and Adjunct Professor at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania.
Dr Esther Ngadaya, a widely recognized researcher and two times NIMR-Muhimbili best scientists, has worked with the National Institute for Medical Research, Muhimbili Centre as the Principal research scientist for over 15 years. She is a Medical doctor with Post graduate diploma in Health Economics and PhD in Epidemiology. Esther has just completed a four years post doc program studying Tuberculosis and zoonotic diseases. She has published over 35 papers in peer reviewed journals on various subjects. She has done extensive research studies among disadvantaged communities including pastoralist communities. Dr. Esther has extensively designed, won and implemented over 40 high impactful projects. She is conversant in both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, as well as data management. In addition, she has conducted over 10 high impactful consultancies as the lead consultant with government of Tanzania, UN agencies, Non-governmental organizations, universities and other research organizations. She has supported programs on developing strategies for translation of research into policies; and currently she is the overall multicounty Principal investigator of a big implementation research grant funded by EDCTP aiming at translating research into policy and practice through scaling-up Evidence-Based Multiple focus Integrated Intensified TB Screening in the East Africa region. Currently she is academic supervisor for MSc and PhD students at the University of Dar es Salaam, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, London School of Tropical Medicine and University of Bergen in Norway. She has wider experience on conducting both operational and implementation research as well as clinical trials, and project monitoring and evaluation. Dr Esther is the chair of the operational research technical working group in Tanzania under the East Africa Public Health Laboratory Network (EAPHLN) Project funded by the World Bank. Dr. Esther is a leader, teacher, supervisor and mentor.
Dr Msafiri Ladislaus Marijani. is a council and university member at the State University of Zanzibar. Msafiri Ladislaus Marijani. holds a academic qualification as follow. Doctor of medicine degree, University of Dar-es-salaam – Tanzania (M.D. Dar). Master of Medicine degree in Human Pathology, University of Nairobi- Kenya (MMed Path UON). Fellowship and Founder member College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (FCPath ECSA). And in university are as follow University Undergraduate: University of Dar es salaam (Muhimbili university college of health sciences); 1995 – 2000. Postgraduate: University of Nairobi, Kenya (2006 – 2010). In lower level education are as follow Primary school – oyster bay primary school, Dar es salaam and Meru primary school, Arusha (1981 -1987). Secondary school (ordinary level) – Arusha secondary school (1988 -1991). Secondary school (advanced level) – Ilboru secondary school, Arusha (1992 – 1994).