Vikki works at the University of Oxford as Programme Manager for MalariaGEN, a global network of academics, clinicians and scientists who pit their combined knowledge against the deadly, yet preventable disease.
Vikki has spent time in malaria-hit regions and works closely with researchers on the frontline as they navigate some rather specific problems.
These have included free-roaming elephants, locating homesteads in the jungle and a complete lack of electricity – not helpful when you need to refrigerate blood samples.
“So many people have been involved in this initiative and not just scientists. Our research is made possible by every mother who agreed that a blood sample could be collected from their desperately sick child,” she says.
“Being a small part of this vital work and enabling such an important global network is very humbling.”
Malaria has no easy fix, she admits: “When we try and kill mosquitoes, or use anti-malarial drugs against the parasite, they become resistant in order to survive. But we are making breakthroughs and I’m proud of that.”
Vikki is an accomplished scientist in her own right and wowed her professors here at Greenwich. She says that her time at the Medway campus – as an undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD student – taught her about collaboration and pursuing personal happiness.
“We used to have these regular peer review sessions, where we showcased our work before our professors. I found these sessions mildly terrifying, but they taught me how to collaborate with other scientists and get people behind an idea – a key part of my work at MalariaGEN.
“Greenwich is such a supportive environment. It gave me the courage to pursue my passion and do something which makes a real difference.
“I’m much happier enabling a network of the best minds through MalariaGEN than pursuing my own academic goals. I definitely agree with the African proverb ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’.”
“Greenwich is such a supportive environment. It gave me the courage to pursue my passion and do something which makes a real difference to people across the globe.”
