Willy Ssengooba, PhD.

Biography

I am an infectious diseases expert with a focus on pathogenesis, diagnostics, and program implementation using both conventional microbiological methods and modern molecular approaches. In this regard, I have acquired the necessary skills and established a laboratory-based research capacity in Uganda. I have acquired advanced skills in Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics. I hold an Erasmus Mundus Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology from the Universities of Amsterdam (Academic Medical Centre), the Netherlands, and Barcelona, Spain with laboratory training at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp, Belgium. I have over 15 years of experience working on projects and training grants relating to TB and HIV in Africa.

I have participated in several international clinical trials and studies including the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), Tuberculosis Vaccine Trials Group, Tuberculosis Clinical Diagnostic Research Consortium (TBCDRC), International Maternal, Paediatric, and Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials (IMPAACT) Network. I have also participated in Diagnostic validation studies including; LAM, Epistem/MolBio True-NAAT, LAMP, XpertULTRA, BDMax, SMF, XpertXDR-TB, etc. Clinical trials including; PROMPT, NC-005, NC-006, NC-008, STREAM2, ACTG/IMPAACT trials [P1108, IMPAACT 2020, A5300B, IMPAACT 2003B / A5300B (PHOENIx), A5349, A5274], SHINE trials, among others as a key person in different positions ranging from technical supervision to principal investigator.

I have trained and supervised 14 master’s students to completion so far, six ongoing and in their final stages, and four Ph.D. students in good progress. I have trained and mentored a number of non-degree students and fellows and most of my students end up taking influential positions in their careers. I have also trained and supervised personnel from a number of laboratories in TB laboratory experiments in Uganda and beyond. I have organized several training programs both at Makerere University and beyond, for students and researchers. Since 2018 to date, I have offered consultancy services to the World Health Organization and USAID as a senior international TB laboratory expert on different aspects. I have offered several invited speeches as well as over 15 international abstract presentations on TB/HIV including general aspects of infectious diseases. During my career development, I won a number of academic awards/ scholarships including research grants, and gained experience which I continue to pass on to my mentees. I have contributed to the establishment of the BSL-3 facility at Makerere University with acceptable international standards in a resource-limited setting. This BSL-3 facility has been College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited since 2014 and it is the laboratory of choice for most TB research groups. I have contributed to over 80 peer-reviewed publications and 5 book chapters in top-rated peer-reviewed journals.