Faatima joined CHIL in March 2019 as a Scientific Officer and leads the endpoints team studying cellular immune responses to HIV, TB, and COVID-19 vaccines. Faatima completed her PhD in Immunology at the HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP) based at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Her PhD aimed at characterizing the role of CD4+ T cell immunoregulatory networks in peripheral blood and lymphoid tissue during HIV-1 clade C infection. The study gave insights into regulatory cells within lymph nodes; their biology, function and their role in the setting of very early antiretroviral therapy initiation. This was an important research area with broad implications for the development of therapeutic strategies and vaccine design.
