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Prof. Hulda Shaidi Swai, holds a PhD in Biomaterials, from Queen Mary's College, University of London, UK where she also worked as a Researcher for 9 years. Prof. Swai, who is a renowned Nanotechnology Scientist, is a Biomedical Researcher with 27 years of experience in Drug development and Drug delivery systems and over the years has focused on Poverty Related Diseases (PRDs) like HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria

In her Science career, she has portrayed great ability and experience in successfully formulating and executing Scientific research projects independently and collaboratively. In this journey, she has trained and mentored researchers and students of different academic levels both nationally and internationally. She has a remarkable history of implementing Biomedical research programs, both in public and private sectors, with a great impact in not only Sub-Saharan African but also Globally. In a unique way, she brought novelty in the field of Nanomedicine by pioneering Nanomedicine research in Poverty Related Diseases (PRDs) drug development for TB and Malaria. Her drive and objective has been to use Nanomedicine’s great potential to revolutionize infectious disease diagnosis and treatment for the population of the world that is most vulnerable. Prof. Swai has remained enthusiastic in her Nanomedicine research and with great commitment; she has directed her professional activities towards multidisciplinary and technological innovation research and training, to develop the capacity necessary to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs for treatment and management of HIV, TB, Malaria and other Poverty Related Diseases (PRDs) of relevance for Africa. She has used Nanomedicine and brought a level of innovativeness in the formulation of improved antibiotics for the treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) and its management in Africa.

In between 2013 and 2019, Dr Kipacha, with BuSH colleagues, has coordinated and organized Business Plan Competition, Arusha Living Lab, Mandela Innovation Week and African Grand Challenges (in Collaboration with WSU, Penn State University & Merck (USA) and STI Innovation Systems Leadership (in collaboration with UNESCO & GKI). Among the achievement in UNESCO/GIK/NMAIST Innovation Systems in Tanzania, he was contracted in November and December 2012 to attend Workshop on Surveys on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Instruments, Governing Bodies, Policies and Indicators, in Harare, Zimbabwe.and Uganda parliamentary STI committee and presented a government brief.

In 2015, Prof. Swai joined NM-AIST and managed to acquire funds (USD 6 Million) from the World Bank for the establishment of the African Centre for Research, Agricultural Advancement, Teaching Excellence and Sustainability (CREATES) in Food and Nutritional Security in Africa which was established at the NM-AIST through the World Bank’s African Centers of Excellence (ACE II) initiative click here for more information. Prof. Swai is the PI and Director of this African Centre of Excellence. Through Prof. Swai’s leadership and great contribution, CREATES was awarded a grant worth USD 250,000 for the establishment of a Regional Incubation Centre on Data Driven Innovation (DDI). The DDI is supported by the Inter Universities Council for East Africa (IUCEA) through a World Bank Grants. The Incubation Centre mandate is testing products in real life environments by working with commercially viable entities to launch companies and products for the national, regional and international market. The DDI intends to offer young innovators/inventors and entrepreneurs a wide range of business development services which includes business idea analysis and diagnostics, mentorship, product/prototypes development and registration services, work station provisions, specialized trainings, market access, pitching and networking activities. The innovators and entrepreneurs will be offered prototypes and products facilities and equipment access at NM-AIST including its Param-Kilimanjaro -High-Performance Computing (HPC) facility with a robust ICT Platform – A Data Hub. This is a five years’ grant and Prof. Swai is the PI.

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In May 2018, Prof. Swai was elected the President of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS). This is a society that has brought together hundreds of leading Scientists, Industry Researchers and Government representatives from the USA and African countries scientist, and they are continually sculpturing a forward-looking sustainable framework for driving materials research in Africa visit here for more information . AMRS hold biannual series of conferences that allow the scientific and research communities worldwide to build knowledge, foster relationships and promote action for further understanding and collaborations in the broad fields associated with Materials Science and Technology for African Development. To honour Prof. Swai’s Presidency in the Society, the 10th Biannual Conference was held at NM-AST in Arusha, Tanzania from 10th-13th Dec, 2019. Tirelessly, Prof. Swai steered the organizing of this Conference that was a great success in the history of NM-AIST and it brought together 378 senior Scientists in Materials Research from all over the world and was able to mobilize funds amounting to USD 172,000.

Fulfilled and happy about her tenure, Prof. Swai handed over the mantle to her successor and wished the society greater growth and prosperity.

Prior to joining NM-AIST, Prof. Swai has worked as a Senior Principal Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in South Africa, where she led the Encapsulation and Delivery Research Group for 11 years. Prof. Swai also instituted and headed the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/ CSIR Pan-African Centre of Excellence in Applied Nanomedicine Research and Training. In this capacity, she won a grant in Research and Training on infectious diseases of poverty worth R 60 million (about US $ 7 million).

In 2013, Prof. Swai was appointed as an Extraordinary Professor in University of Pretoria. Prof. Swai has also established numerous collaborations with African institutions working on Malaria and has increased the human capacity and established a malaria drug delivery program. Collaborators include the Kenya Medical Research institute (KEMRI), Strathmore University, the African Centre for Clinical Trials, the University of Nairobi – all in Kenya, as well as the African Institute for Biomedical Science and Technology, in Zimbabwe.

Prof. Swai is an Editor in the International Journal of Nanomedicine and an Advisory Board Member of WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology which is a Journal with an Impact Factor of 6.35. Prof Swai has served in renowned national and international scientific committees including: Being a Board Member of the International Scientific Committee of the 4th EU-funded European Summer School in Nanomedicine, a Nanomedicine Expert in the Nanotechnology curriculum development for South African high school learners by the South African departments of Science and Technology and Secondary school Education, Steering Committee Member of ISHReCA (Initiative to Strengthen Health Research Capacity in Africa, Advisory Committee Member of NANACODE for responsible Nanotechnology research in South Africa, UNECA Expert for UNECA STI report on major trends and development in the generation, acquisition, management, use and ownership of the technology in Africa,International Scientific Committee member of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summer School on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine Expert on the Scientific Committee on Malaria - the African Network for Drugs & Diagnostics Innovation, Committee Member of the TB Alliance working group on new drugs, Nominated to the Developing Countries Coordinating Committee (DCCC) of the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).

Prof. Swai has gained great recognition in her scientific journey and has been awarded immensely and worn very prestigious awards. These includes: National Health innovation Award given by National Institute of Medical Research (NIMRI) biannually to the most prominent Biomedical researcher, Biotech Fundi Capacity Builder Award, CSIR MSM Excellence Awards as a Winner of Career Achievement Award, 2011 ANDI Centres of Excellence;Nanomedicine Platform recognised by ANDI as a Pan-African Centre of Excellence in Nanomedicine Research and Training, best poster presenter in the 2011 4th ANDI Stakeholders Meeting, finalist in the Contributions to Science Engineering and Technology by an Individual in the 2010/11 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) awards, 2010/11 NSTF and T W Kambule Awards Finalist - life time achievement by a Black Researcher, 2010 CSIR-Wide Biennial Excellence Awards as a Winner - President’s prestigious award for excellence, 2010 CSIR-Wide Biennial Excellence Awards as a Winner - Mentorship award, 2010 CSIR MSM excellence awards as a Winner - Director’s award for excellence in mentorship, SA Bioplan 2009 business plan competition in Association with Emory University, USA as a Winner - Best business plan & Best presentation (cash prize of R 160,000.00, and was eligible to apply for up R 15 million funding for business plan idea submitted), Material Science and Manufacturing excellence award for special contribution on the Nano drug delivery project, Polymer and Bioceramics special Achievement award with respect to TB Nano-drug delivery to address patient non-compliance to TB treatment, Featured in the “Who is Who” in South Africa, the by Mail and Guardian in 2006 & 2009.

Recently, Prof. Swai’s proposal to OR Tambo Research Chair Initiative was shortlisted for funding. The OR Tambo Research Chair Initiative is an initiative where Research Chairs are normally granted in recognition of their individual leadership and talent. Their institution is also recognized at its commitment to support high-quality research. The OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs combine political, development and higher education objectives. They aim to honour a leading figure in the development of African unity; have a catalytic impact on the development of research infrastructure in recipient countries; and contribute to knowledge production and high end skills in alignment with AU Agenda 2063 and STISA 2024. The Chairs foster prestige and visibility for individuals to catalyze expertise in a given area and train the next generation of scholars. Chair holders are expected to meet set targets for staff development, and additional funds are provided for supporting post-doctoral and postgraduate students under the supervision of the respective Chair holders. Such research hubs play a critical role in the development of a national or regional research system and if awarded, NM-AIST flag will be flown even higher in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In a nutshell, Prof. Swai has displayed great passion, loyalty and commitment as a researcher. Several young people have been inspired by the way she applies herself. She is a natural leader, mentor, and advocate for Human Capacity Development. Her fortitude is commendable and her resolve to make a difference is undeniable. Her passion to continuously pass down her competencies to the younger generation, to ensure a healthier and economically progressive Africa, in unmistakable. Her passion and diligence to transform Africa is very obvious. She has inspired thousands of African women that they too can do better for their continent. In the words of Ms. Naledi Pandor, previous Minister of Science & Technology, South Africa, Prof Swai is the epitome of what any young female African scientist should aspire to.

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