Dr Wilber Sabiiti
Principal Research Fellow
Biography
I am a biomedical scientist with interest in translational research, working on the interface of applied biological science and healthcare provision. My work takes a holistic approach from primary discovery and optimisation in the laboratory to addressing barriers of translating biomedical research innovations into policy and practice. Achieving this kind of work requires interdisciplinary approach and expertise, which I have achieved by bringing together international minds in various research consortia primary between UK and Africa but also continental Europe, Asia and North America. In recent years my group has focused on the development and optimisation of rapid tests for quantification of bacteria responsible for tuberculosis (TB) disease and exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This work has resulted in the tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay (TB-MBLA), the first ever fully quantitative test for quantifying patient TB bacterial load and measuring the change of this load as patient responds to treatment. Working with interdisciplinary team of researchers from UK, USA and East Africa, we are investigating the biolgical and socioeconomic drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and more recently the impact of COVID-19 on antibiotics use and risk of AMR rise. Besides research I teach Introductory epidemiology & TB pathology, diagnosis and treatment to Bachelor of Medicine- and Interdisciplinary approaches to solving global health challenges to Master of International development- students. I belong to several international learned societies and I am a member of several professional committees and/or panels: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Academic Adviser panel, UK NIHR College of Experts for the Global Effort on COVID-19, COVID-19 Clinical Clinical Research Coalition Virology, Imunology & Diagnostics Working group, TDR/WHO AMR Knowledge management consultant and Newton fund Biomedical Science reviewer panel.
PhD supervision
- Emmanuel Musisi
- Ritah Nakiboneka
- Winters Muttamba
Selected publications
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Open access
Detection and quantification of viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli in saline-processed stool samples by Tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay: a potential alternative for processing stool
Musisi, E., Ssesolo, A., Sloan, D. J., Gillespie, S. H. & Sabiiti, W., 12 May 2022, In: Microbiology Spectrum. Ahead of Print, 3 p., 00274-22.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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Open access
Detection and quantification of viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli in saline-processed stool samples by Tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay: a potential alternative for processing stool
Musisi, E., Ssesolo, A., Sloan, D. J., Gillespie, S. H. & Sabiiti, W., 12 May 2022, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 10, 3, 3 p., 00274-22.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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Extracting and classifying salient fields of view from microscopy slides of tuberculosis bacteria
Zachariou, M., Arandelovic, O., Dombay, E., Sabiiti, W., Mtafya, B. A. & Sloan, D. J., 2022, Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence: Third International Conference, ICPRAI 2022, Paris, France, June 1–3, 2022, Proceedings, Part I. El Yacoubi, M., Granger, E., Yuen, P. C., Pal, U. & Vincent, N. (eds.). Springer, p. 146–157 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; vol. 13363).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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Open access
High Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillary loads detected by tuberculosis molecular bacterial load assay in patient stool: a potential alternative for nonsputum diagnosis and treatment response monitoring of tuberculosis
Musisi, E., Sessolo, A., Kaswabuli, S., Zawedde, J., Byanyima, P., Kasiinga, S., Sanyu, I., Uwimaana, E., Walimbwa, S., Ola, J., Ssengooba, W., Sekaggya, C., Joloba, M. L., Worodria, W., Huang, L., Gillespie, S. H., Sloan, D. J. & Sabiiti, W., 23 Feb 2022, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 10, 1, 12 p., e02100-21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay reveals early delayed bacterial killing in patients with relapse
Ntinginya, N. E., Bakuli, A., Mapamba, D., Sabiiti, W., Kibiki, G., Minja, L. T., Kuchaka, D., Reither, K., Phillips, P., Boeree, M. J., Gillespie, S. H., Hoelscher, M., Heinrich, N. & PanACEA Consortium, 19 Jun 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Clinical Infectious Diseases. Advance Article, 5 p., ciac445.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Tuberculosis bacteria detection and counting in fluorescence microscopy images using a multi-stage deep learning pipeline
Zachariou, M., Arandjelović, O., Sabiiti, W., Mtafya, B. & Sloan, D., 18 Feb 2022, In: Information. 13, 2, 16 p., 96.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Use of a molecular bacterial load assay to distinguish between active TB and post-TB lung disease
Mbelele, P. M., Sabiiti, W., Heysell, S. K., Sauli, E., Mpolya, E. A., Mfinanga, S., Gillespie, S. H., Addo, K. K., Kibiki, G., Sloan, D. J. & Mpagama, S. G., 1 Mar 2022, In: International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 26, 3, p. 276-278 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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Open access
Bacterial load comparison of the three main lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in West Africa
Osei-Wusu, S., Morgan, P., Asare, P., Adams, G., Musah, A. B., Siam, I. M., Gillespie, S. H., Sabiiti, W. & Yeboah-Manu, D., 27 Oct 2021, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 12, 719531.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Dispensing antibiotics without prescription at the community pharmacies and accredited drug dispensing outlets in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study
Ndaki, P. M., Mushi, M. F., Mwanga, J. R., Konje, E. T., Ntinginya, N. E., Mmbaga, B. T., Keenan, K. L., Sabiiti, W., Kesby, M., Benitez Paez, M. F., Sandeman, A. F., Holden, M., Mshana, S. E. & HATUA Consortium, 23 Aug 2021, In: Antibiotics. 10, 8, 16 p., 1025.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Evaluation of the molecular bacterial load assay for detecting viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cerebrospinal fluid before and during tuberculous meningitis treatment
Thanh Hai, H., Sabiiti, W., Anh Thu, D. D., Hoan Phu, N., Gillespie, S. H., Thwaites, G. & Thuy Thuong Thuong, N., May 2021, In: Tuberculosis. 128, 6 p., 102084.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review