Pan-African Collaboration
A Nexus for Epidemic Modelling
A pan-African network of leading research institutions driving epidemic preparedness across five countries.
Pan-African Collaboration
A Nexus for Epidemic Modelling
A pan-African network of leading research institutions driving epidemic preparedness across five countries.
Leadership & Governance
Principal Investigator
Prof Sheetal Silal
Professor Sheetal Silal is the Director of the Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) and a Professor in the Department of Statistical Sciences at the University of Cape Town.
She is an internationally recognised leader in the field of infectious disease modelling, with a particular focus on vector-borne and vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa and globally. She is an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow in Tropical Disease Modelling at the University of Oxford.
Professor Silal's research centres on the development and application of mathematical transmission models to predict disease dynamics, evaluate the impact of public health interventions, and support evidence-based decision-making.
She is currently the Chair of the World Health Organization's Immunization and Vaccine Implementation Research Advisory Committee and serves on the WHO Collaboratory Technical Advisory Group. In these roles, she contributes to shaping global immunization strategy and advancing the use of modelling to guide health system decision-making.
The People
Team Members
Researchers, Students, and Administration and Finance embedded across all five consortium institutions.
Prof Sheetal Silal
Lead PI
Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa
Lydia Dreyer
Finance Officer
Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa
Mandisa Mamputa
MEAL Site Coordinator
Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa
Dr Elisabet Martí Coma-Cros
Communications Officer
Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa
Dr Rachel Hounsell
Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa
Grace Carmichael
Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa
Prof Thumbi Mwangi
Co-Principal Investigator
Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis
Dr Mutono Nyamai
Senior Research Fellow
Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis
Dr Purity Wambui
Project Manager
Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis
Dr Oumaima Laraj
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis
Annie Njanja
MEAL & Comms Site Coordinator
Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis
Dr David Khaoya
Health Economist
Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis
TM
Tonderai Mapako
Co-Principal Investigator
Zimbabwe Infectious Disease Modelling Consortium
DZ
David Zezai
MEAL Officer
Zimbabwe Infectious Disease Modelling Consortium
RB
Rutendo Birri Makota
MEAL Site Coordinator / Senior Researcher
Zimbabwe Infectious Disease Modelling Consortium
MC
Mucha Chikwira
Finance Site Coordinator
Zimbabwe Infectious Disease Modelling Consortium
RC
Radhi Chikwereti
Finance Site Coordinator
Zimbabwe Infectious Disease Modelling Consortium
CL
Cheikh Loucoubar
Co-Principal Investigator
Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Mohamed Djiba
Finance Site Coordinator
Institut Pasteur de Dakar
QL
Quentin Lacour
Project Officer / MEAL Site Coordinator / Communications Site Coordinator
Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Dr Maryam Diarra
Senior Scientist
Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Mareme Thiam
Data Analyst
Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Heinrich Bohlmann
Co-Principal Investigator
University of Pretoria
Jessika Bohlmann
Senior Research Fellow / MEAL Site Coordinator / Communications Site Coordinator
University of Pretoria
Charmaine Galante
Finance Site Coordinator
University of Pretoria
Dr Leone Walters
Researcher
University of Pretoria
AM
Akindeh Mbuh Nji
Co-Principal Investigator
FINISTECH
TF
Tatou Fidele Alain
Finance Site Coordinator / MEAL Site Coordinator
FINISTECH
RN
Randolph Ngwafor
FINISTECH