Professor Dyann Wirth

Professor Dyann Wirth has been a major leader in the area of malaria research. Her work has provided completely new insight into how the malaria parasite has evolved, specifically in the areas of population biology, drug resistance and antigenicity. The Wirth laboratory blends the scientific environments of the Harvard School of Public Health, the Broad Institute, and collaborators from around the globe to create a unique malaria research and training network that brings together scientists with expertise in molecular biology, genetics, genomics, population genetics, chemistry, cell biology, epidemiology, computational biology and biostatistics, as well as leading clinicians in infectious diseases and pathology. Leveraging the genomic tools of the human genomic project, the group has applied state-of-the-art technologies and novel approaches to better understand the fundamental biology of the malaria parasite and the mechanisms of drug resistance. Professor Wirth’s research activities are made possible through collaborative research partnerships with investigators, universities, and clinical centers in Africa, in particular Senegal, Asia and South America.

Professor Wirth is current Fellow and past President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene and Joseph Augustine LePrince Medal recipient; a past board member of the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund and Marine Biological Laboratory; a member of the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences; and a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. 

Professor Wirth has played a major role in malaria education and leadership training. With colleagues from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (IS Global) and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, she developed the Science of Eradication Leadership course and has recently led the development of a HarvardX online course, MalariaX. Both of these efforts bring the range of expertise from the Genes to the Globe together in one course.

Last updated:  3 February 2021