Wilber Sabiiti is a senior research fellow at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine Division of Infection and Global Health. He received his Bachelor of Science with honours from Makerere University Uganda, Master of Science Molecular Biology from Universiteit Brussel Belgium and PhD from University of Birmingham UK.
During his predoctoral work with the University of Antwerp, Wilber developed keen interest in identification and validation of disease biomarkers of diagnosis and treatment. targets. This interest was further expanded during PhD at the University of Birmingham and postdoctoral research at St Georges University of London where explored the markers of dissemination of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans from the lungs to the brain. His work led to the first publication of the link between cryptococcal - macrophage interaction and severity and outcome of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. At University of St Andrews, Wilber has led the development, optimisation and field trials of the novel tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay (TB-MBLA) test. Like HIV viral load test, the test applies molecular principles to detect and quantify viable tuberculosis bacilli in patient sample. Wilber has led the creation of a network of TB-MBLA users that are currently evaluating the test in over 16 countries.
His current focuses on identification and validation of diagnostic and treatment biomarkers for tuberculosis and conduct of implementation research to translate the innovation into health policy and practice. He's also co-leading work on identification of drivers and remedies of antimicrobial resistance in Africa.
