Employing (Home) Organisation: African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Harare, Zimbabwe
Project title: Application of Physiological based Population Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling of preclinical in vitro ADME to support the discovery of long half-life antimalaria drugs
Dr. Ali Mohamed (from Zanzibar) received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Statistics at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and his PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Basel & Swiss TPH, specializing in Pharmacometrics. He is a Biostatistician and Pharmacometrician with extensive experience in analyzing clinical trials datasets for malaria drugs, vaccines, and sporozoite human challenge studies. He is a member of the Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics community, interested in in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of ADME properties.
Summary of Project Destination
Despite global efforts to combat malaria, which claims the lives of approximately 76% of children under five annually, there remains a critical need for long half-life antimalarial drugs. By using in vitro data to predict in vivo outcomes through robust Physiologically Based Population Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, we can anticipate drug behavior in the human body, which is essential for designing safer and more effective drugs. Through the AREF fellowship, my goal is to apply PBPK modeling of preclinical in vitro data to support the discovery of long-acting antimalarial drugs. This knowledge will help mitigate risks and accelerate drug discovery programs in Africa, ensuring safety and efficacy, and ultimately reducing attrition rates and the cost of drug development.
Summary of Fellowship Plan
I will be placed at the University of Manchester at the Centre for Applied Pharmacokinetic Research, renowned for its PBPK research. Working with experts, I will gain advanced training in PBPK techniques, hands-on experience with Simcyp software, and exposure to cutting-edge methodologies. This will enhance my skills in predicting drug behavior, contributing to safer antimalarial drugs. My home institution will integrate the knowledge and skills acquired into ongoing research, fostering collaboration and professional development to advance drug discovery in Africa.
Quote
“This placement will empower me to advance antimalarial drug discovery, addressing a critical health challenge and saving lives of children under five. “
Dr. Ali Mohamed expects to start his fellowship in July 2025