Pauline Mwinzi

I am passionate about improving global health through research and action, currently serving as the WHO Regional Technical Officer for Schistosomiasis (SCH) and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) in Africa. In this role, I work closely with health ministries and partners across the continent to implement the WHO NTD Roadmap 2030, helping countries track progress and strengthen efforts to eliminate SCH and STH. 

Before joining WHO, I led groundbreaking research and public health programs as Chief Research Scientist and Head of the NTD Unit at the Center for Global Health Research (CGHR) within the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Kisumu, Kenya. As the Principal Investigator and Director of the KEMRI-CDC Cooperative Agreement, I managed large-scale, multi-country projects focused on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), collaborating with global partners to drive innovation and impact.My academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Parasitology and Immunology (2005) from Kenyatta University, with postgraduate training at the Universiteit Utrecht Medical School, CDC Atlanta, and through a WHO/TDR scholarship. 

I was also a Wellcome Trust Fellow from 2008 to 2010, which further deepened my expertise in tropical diseases and global health. Throughout my career, I’ve prioritized building strong research networks and supporting the next generation of scientists. I founded the KEMRI Annual NTD Conference, which ran successfully for over a decade before merging with InCORNTD, and served as the Founding Chair of the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD). I’ve also contributed to global health governance as a board member for the American Society for Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH) and ARNTD.