Shmona Simpson

Catalyzing and democratizing translational research

I am a scientist-strategist, working at the intersection of medical innovation and social justice. My specialty is new tools and strategies to tackle pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential.

So far, I have worked on HIV, TB, SARS coronaviruses, enteroviruses, zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. I find researching and developing new prophylactic tools, diagnostics, and treatments quite interesting.

Over the years, I've developed pretty strong research and data management skills. Finding critical-gaps, and formulating solutions to assess and advance programs have become a forte. I enjoy collaborating with stakeholders from multiple disciplines. I value working with people from all over the world, who approach problems differently.

What I am most passionate about, is supporting end-users to make healthcare solutions for themselves. This means health systems strengthening, building research capacity, and democratizing translational research. I support local innovation, for local and global impact.

I believe that the key to solving the world's biggest problems, probably lies at the intersection of social justice and end-user innovation.

On the side, I write, make music, and agitate.

Honors and Awards

Rhodes Scholar

Chair Black Rhodes Scholars Association

Nuffield Department of Medicine Prize Student

Gates Foundation Global Health Fellow

Government Scholar - Cayman Islands

Experience and Education

Global Health Fellow, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA [2017 - 2020]

Scientist, HIV Immunology & Global Health, University of Oxford, UK [2012 – 2017]

Senior Research Officer, Mosquito Research & Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Government of the Cayman Islands [2013 - 2014]

Immunologist, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK [2010 – 2012]

Graduate Scientist, Wellcome Trust-Oxford Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City [2010]

Education

University of Oxford PhD Clinical Medicine (Immunology)

UK Health and Safety Executive Principles and Practices of Working with ACDP Group 2 and 3 Pathogens

University of Oxford MSc Global Health (Tropical Medicine)

University of London BSc Biomedical Sciences (First Class Honors)

Publications and Presentations

Author(s)	Published	Title	Journal
S Simpson, MC Kaufmann, V Glozman, A. Chakrabarti	2020	Disease X: accelerating the development of medical countermeasures for the next pandemic	Lancet Infectious Diseases
S Simpson	2019	Sickle Cell Disease: A New Era	Lancet Hematology
S Simpson, T de Silva, T Vincent, A Jaye, S Rowland-Jones	2015	Polymorphisms in TRIM22 are Associated with HIV-2 Acquisition and Disease Progression	Journal of the International AIDS Society
S Simpson, S Jallow (Editors: Thomas J. Hope, Mario Stevenson, Douglas Richman)	2015	Interactions between HIV-2 and Host Restriction Factors	Encyclopedia of AIDS (ISBN: 978-1-4614-9610-6)
S Jallow, S Simpson (Editors: Thomas J. Hope, Mario Stevenson, Douglas Richman)	2015	TRIM5α and HIV-2 Infection	Encyclopedia of AIDS (ISBN: 978-1-4614-9610-6)

Conferences and Briefs

S Simpson “TRIM22: A Novel Restriction Factor for HIV-2.” Mechanisms of HIV Persistence: Implications for a Cure. Keystone Symposia. Boston, USA. April 2015.

S Simpson “Enhancement of the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Model /Macaque Model of AIDS.” Primate Welfare Meeting. Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. U.K. November 2011.

S Simpson “Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Southern Vietnam: A diagnostic, epidemiologic, and clinical investigation.” Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Vietnam. June 2010.

Briefs

S Simpson. 2014. “Implementation of an Operational Program based on Oxitec RIDL Technology for the Control and Potential Elimination of the Aedes aegypti Mosquito Vector of Dengue and Chikungunya Fever in the Cayman Islands.” Ministry of Health.

Contact

Connect

Shmona works to strengthen systems, catalyze and democratize translational research. She believes in racial justice and user-led innovation. The intersection of those are the way forward and she invites those who agree to subscribe to keep in touch.