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, The 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, The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- 2017: Rapporteur, Rethinking Malaria Leadership Forum, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- 2011: Panellist (opening ceremony) in the 61st Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
- 2009–2015: Malaria Research Trust (Reviewer), Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee (IRB/EC)
Positions
- 2024–present: Postdoctoral Researcher, Malaria Immunity and Vaccine Group, Burnet Institute
- 2023: Research Assistant, Malaria Immunity and Vaccine Group, Burnet Institute
- 2016–2018: Laboratory Scientist (Team Manager) PATH, MACEPA
- 2015–2016: Laboratory Technologist, Akros Research Zambia
- 2007–2015: Laboratory Scientist, Macha Research Trust (MRT)/Johns Hopkins Malaria Research (JHMRI)
Awards
- 2025: Harold Mitchell Foundation Postdoctoral Travel Fellowship
- 2022: The Mary Lugton Scholarship fund (PhD)
- 2018: Melbourne Research Scholarship (PhD), The University of Melbourne
- 2013: NUFFIC grant (PhD)
- 2012: Infection and Immunity Fund 2012 (travel grant)
- 2011: Lindau Nobel Laureate (Student travel grant)
- 2010: Infection and Immunity research grant (MSc)
Burnet publications
View 2 moreAntibody fine specificity correlates with protection from malaria for the RTS,S vaccine in young African children: A post hoc analysis of a phase IIb randomised controlled trial
PLoS Medicine
Alessia Hysa et al
Dose-sparing self-amplifying RNA vaccine induces high functional antibodies to blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum malaria
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Adam A Thomas et al
Targeting a malaria merozoite surface protein with mRNA vaccine generates multifunctional antibodies
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Adam Thomas et al
Current projects
View 1 moreMalaria Synergy Program
The program brings together experts to achieve the goals of malaria elimination in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
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.
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.
