The Scientific Leadership Program identifies mid-career scientists who would benefit from additional resources and mentorship on their way to becoming leaders in the field. This program also has a solid commitment to ensuring that our clinical trials are led by people from the communities which we serve. To learn more about our awardees, check out their profiles below.

2023 |  2022


2023 SLD Awardees

Mitch Matoga, MBBS, MSc

Mitch Matoga, MBBS, MSc

HVTN Site: UNC Project Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi

Mentor: Mina Hosseinipour, MD, MPH, UNC School of Medicine

Vimla Naicker, MBChB

Vimla Naicker, MBChB

HVTN Site: South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Durban, South Africa

Mentor :Ameena Goga, MD, MS, PhD, South African Medical Research Council

Tariro Chawana, MBChB, MSc

Tariro Chawana, MBChB, MSc

HVTN Site: University of Zimbabwe CTRC Seke South, Harare, Zimbabwe

Mentor: Z. Mike Chirenje, MD, FRCOG, University of Zimbabwe

Cassie Grimsley Ackerley, MD

Cassie Grimsley Ackerley, MD

HVTN Site: The Hope Clinic of the Emory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Mentor: Srilatha Edupuganti, MD, MPH, Emory University

Alfredo Jose Mena Lora, MD

Alfredo Jose Mena Lora, MD

HVTN Site: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Mentor: Richard Novak, MD, University of Illinois 

2022 SLD Awardees

Valeria Cantos, MD

Valeria Cantos, MD

HVTN Site: Emory University Ponce de Leon, Atlanta, Georgia

Mentor: Colleen Kelley, M.D., M.P.H., Emory University School of Medicine

Jorge Gallardo, MD

Jorge Gallardo, MD

HVTN Site: Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Biomédicas y Medioambientales (CITBM) of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, Peru

Mentor: Jorge Sánchez, M.D., M.P.H., PERU Clinical Trials Unit

Portia Hunidzarira, MBChB, MSc

Portia Hunidzarira, MBChB, MSc

HVTN Site: Seke South CRS, Harare, Zimbabwe

Mentor: Z. Mike Chirenje, M.D., F.R.C.O.G., University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre

Rachel Kawalazira, MBBS, MSc

Rachel Kawalazira, MBBS, MSc

HVTN Site: Johns Hopkins Research Project, Blantyre, Malawi

Mentor: Johnstone Kumwenda, M.B.Ch.B., M.Sc., F.R.C.P., Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Formerly, College of Medicine under University of Malawi

Pamela Mda, MBChB, MMed

Pamela Mda, MBChB, MMed

HVTN Site: Nelson Mandela Academic Clinical Research Unit, Mthatha, South Africa

Mentor: Glenda Gray: M.B.B.CH., F.C.Paed., D.Sc., President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council

Deborah Theodore, MD

Deborah Theodore, MD

HVTN Site: Columbia Physicians & Surgeons Clinical Research Site, New York City

Mentor: Magda Sobieszczyk, M.D., M.P.H., Harold C. Neu Professor of Infectious Diseases (in Medicine) at the Columbia University Medical Center