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Dr Alice Matimba
Head of Training and Global Capacity
Learning and Training
Alice leads the computational and laboratory-based training program held both in the UK and abroad. Her expertise lies in developing initiatives for genomics capacity development and managing global training programs for researchers and healthcare professionals. With a background in human genetics, cell and molecular biology, Alice conducted her PhD and postdoctoral work in clinical and population pharmacogenomics, thereby building extensive experience in genomics and public health research, education and training. Alice leverages her deep understanding of the intersections between genomics and health research, education and capacity building to advance scientific knowledge, skills, and foster collaboration on a global scale.
My publications
- All
- Selected
- 2023
- 2021
Advancing intercontinental collaboration in human genetics: success story of the African and European Young Investigator Forum.
European journal of human genetics : EJHG 2023
Ten simple rules for organizing a bioinformatics training course in low- and middle-income countries.
PLoS computational biology 2021;17;8;e1009218
PUBMED: 34411091 PMC: PMC8375989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009218
Train-the-Trainer as an Effective Approach to Building Global Networks of Experts in Genomic Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2021;73;Suppl_4;S283-S289
Advanced genomics and sequencing technologies are increasingly becoming critical for global health applications such as pathogen and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance. Limited resources challenge capacity development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with few countries having genomics facilities and adequately trained staff. Training research and public health experts who are directly involved in the establishment of such facilities offers an effective, but limited, solution to a growing need. Instead, training them to impart their knowledge and skills to others provides a sustainable model for scaling up the much needed capacity and capability for genomic sequencing and analysis locally with global impact. We designed and developed a Train-the-Trainer course integrating pedagogical aspects with genomic and bioinformatics activities. The course was delivered to 18 participants from 12 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A combination of teaching strategies culminating in a group project created a foundation for continued development at home institutions. Upon follow-up after 6 months, at least 40% of trainees had initiated training programs and collaborations to build capacity at local, national, and regional level. This work provides a framework for implementing a training and capacity building program for the application of genomics tools and resources in AMR surveillance.