Sam Wassmer (PhD) is a medical parasitologist, whose research focuses on the effects of malaria infection on the brain. He leads an international team of multi-disciplinary researchers in India, Switzerland, the US, Gabon and the UK to develop new diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches for malaria patients. He is the Co-Director of the Malaria Centre at LSHTM, which aims to connect and support over 300 malaria researchers internally and externally through seminars, social events and scientific retreats.
He is known for his innovative and collaborative work in malaria-endemic settings that integrates advanced neuroimaging, molecular diagnostics and artificial intelligence aimed at a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to cerebral malaria. His projects have been funded by the Wellcome Trust, the MRC and the NIH and have led him to work and live in Malawi, the US, and the UK. Sam is closely involved in capacity building through long-standing partnerships with research institutes across Africa and Southeast Asia.
He is a Mental Health First-Aider, and a Steering Committee member of LSHTM Press.
Affiliations
Centres
Teaching
Sam has successfully completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching at the LSHTM and has become an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). He has a wide range of teaching activities, which include:
Module Organiser for Immunology of Clinical Disease (IDM3167),
Co-Module Organiser for the Distance Learning Malaria Module (IDM503),
Lectures:
- inflammation, immunopathology of infectious diseases & malaria pathogenesis (IDM3120),
- malaria blood stages & immunology (IDM3177),
- innate immunity, inflammation and immunopathogenesis (IDM3134),
- malaria pathophysiology (Distance Learning IDM103, IDM213, IDM503),
MSc exam marking (both intensive and distance learning).
He is the Chair of the Immunology of Infectious Diseases Exam Board, tutors students from several MSc courses, and is involved in the Mentorship Scheme and the Grant Application Programme at LSHTM.
Research
Selected Publications
