WHO Regional Director for Africa
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti is a Medical Virologist/Research Scientist based at the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), a Research Associate with the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health and adjunct scholar with the University of Botswana. His research interests are focused on pathogen genomics (multiple pathogens), bioinformatics and phylogenetics, the characterization of acute and primary HIV-1 subtype C infection, HIV cure, molecular epidemiology of HIV-1C infection, drug resistance, dynamics of viral evolution, cross-sectional methods for estimating HIV incidence. Recently, he led a team at the BHP that sequenced the early cases of Omicron variant that has become the most dominant circulating variant worldwide. Sikhulile recently received several awards for his contribution to global public health including the German Afrika Foundation Award 2022, Martin Luther Jr Humanitarian Award and was nominated by Time Magazine for the most influential people in 2022 (Time100). Recently awarded 3 national research excellence awards, the Order of the Great Zimbabwe national award and the Presidential Order of Merit award. Dr Moyo is involved in various clinical trials, observational studies, and pathogen genomics research, including HIV, SARS-COV-2, Hepatitis, Human Papillomavirus, TB, sapovirus, Norovirus, and STIs. Has been involved in HIV response 2003, assisting in the design and implementation of Clinical Trials and Observational Studies, national populations HIV surveys, ANC surveillance, HIV Estimates and Projections working group, HIV drug resistance working groups and several other national assignments, including serving in the presidential COVID-19 taskforce. He has over 188 publications in peer-reviewed journals.