Afolabi Muhammed O

Medical doctor with a PhD in Global Health, Fellow and Principal Investigator on a career development fellowship funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Extensive experience in epidemiological research and clinical vaccine trials related to the control and prevention of Ebola, HIV and malaria. Led the paediatric vaccine trials, findings of which contributed to the approval of the novel two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen (ZABDENO/MVABEA) by the European Medicines Agency and World Health Organization. Principal investigator on a collaborative trial involving Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia and Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Senegal to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of malaria vaccines when co-administered with routine childhood immunisations in infants and neonates. Developed and evaluated in a randomised controlled trial a simplified alternative method of delivering consent information to non-literate and low-literate research participants, using a locally designed multimedia tool which integrated video, animations, and audio narrations in local languages. The tool aided comprehension and retention of consent information thereby supporting the ethical framework for obtaining truly informed consent. Research interests also include bioethics issues shaping the conduct of clinical trials in vulnerable populations. Serve on several committees including the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) Working Group on COVID-19 vaccines and Nuffield Council on Bioethics.