Dr Sandra Chishimba
Postdoctoral Researcher/Research Officer
Working groups

Background
Sandra is a postdoctoral researcher at Burnet Institute. She has a background in infection and immunity. Sandra is currently working on establishing the role of neutrophils in immunity to malaria and antibody-mediated immune responses to COVID-19.
Qualifications
- 2024: PhD, University of Melbourne, Australia
- 2012: MSc, Infection and Immunity, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), The Netherlands
- 2006: BSc, Medical Microbiology, University of Zambia, Zambia
Appointments
- 2024–present: Honorary Fellow, University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- 2009–2015: Malaria Research Trust (Reviewer), Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee (IRB/EC)
Positions
- 2023–present: Postdoctoral researcher, Malaria Immunity and Vaccine Group, Burnet Institute
Awards
- 2025: Harold Mitchell Foundation Postdoctoral Travel Fellowship
- 2022: The Mary Lugton Scholarship fund (PhD)
- 2018: Melbourne Research Scholarship (PhD), University of Melbourne
- 2013: NUFFIC grant (PhD)
- 2012: Infection and Immunity fund 2012 (travel grant)
- 2010: Infection and Immunity research grant (MSc)
Burnet publications
Complement-fixation by antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum
Research Square (Research Square)
Sandra Chishimba et al
Mechanisms and targets of Fcγ-receptor mediated immunity to malaria sporozoites
Nature Communications
Gaoqian Feng et al
Malaria antifolate resistance with contrasting Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) polymorphisms in humans and Anopheles mosquitoes
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Sandra Chishimba
Current projects
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Discovering the mechanisms and targets of immunity against malaria
In the fight against malaria, we're exploring antibodies that can directly inhibit host cell infection, interact with immune cells to kill and clear malaria or recruit the body’s complement system to neutralise infection.

Understanding malaria transmission and immunity to inform malaria elimination
We aim to determine how malaria immunity impacts on the transmission of malaria and how immunity influences malaria control interventions.
Malaria Synergy Program
The program brings together experts to achieve the goals of malaria elimination in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.