Dr Deus Ishengoma is principal research scientist, acting director, and lab head at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR). Dr Ishengoma joined NIMR in 2003 and established a molecular biology laboratory at Tanga Centre in 2006 and field sites for clinical trials for different interventions. His team has implemented over eight antimalarial trials in the past six years and has also conducted field and laboratory studies in Tanzania. His research focuses on surveillance of parasite populations, antimalarial drug resistance, and efficacy of antimalarials. He also works on strengthening laboratory capacity for malaria research and diagnosis of common infectious pathogens in Tanzania.

Dr Ishengoma is a member of different scientific networks, including the Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria Network and the US President’s Malaria Initiative-supported Antimalarial Resistance Monitoring in Africa Network. He co-founded the Plasmodium Diversity Network Africa, the Tanzania Genome Network, and the African Society of Antimicrobial Resistance. His group is currently using genomic tools to support the National Malaria Control Programme in Tanzania in the surveillance of malaria transmission dynamics and molecular markers of drug resistance.