Roma Chilengi is a Zambian Physician, epidemiologist and professor of vaccinology currently employed as Special Assistant to the President-Health, and Director General for the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI). He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Zambia. He then obtained a post graduate diploma, and master’s degree in Epidemiology from the University of London. He also undertook his post graduate fellowship training at Glaxosmithkline Biologicals in Rixensart Belgium and World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
His previous roles span from clinical work in the teaching hospital, and clinical investigator as a scientific officer. He served at the African Malaria Network Trust as a sponsor Coordinator for malaria vaccine development across Africa and based in Tanzania. He also was affiliated with University of Oxford and based at the KENRI-Wellcome Research Program in Kenya as Head of Clinical Trials. After 8 years in diaspora, he returned to the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) where he established and led the Enteric Disease and Vaccine Research Unit for 10 years. At CIDRZ he served as Chief Scientific Officer for 6 years during which time he also was the principal investigator on many research program and was site leader for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) in Zambia. He prides himself in having led the program that introduced rotavirus vaccination in Zambia; and also having set up the first human infection challenge study models.
He is a full professor of vaccinology affiliated with University of Lusaka and also has adjunct assistant professorship with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. He has vast experience leading research and training programs and supervisors many PhD and Masters students on the academic paths. With over 25 years research experience, he has authored and co-authored over 190 peer reviewed manuscripts and sits on several local and international scientific advisory boards. Most recently, he has just been awarded the Pandemic Fund grant for Zambia.
