OJ is an infectious disease modeler who has used mathematical models to demonstrate the uses and limitations of malaria genetics to develop and evaluate different control interventions for the disease. His software and research has been used by numerous health authorities in Africa to help plan their malaria campaigns.
As a Schmidt Science Fellow, OJ Â pivoted to systems biology and bioinformatics to increase our understanding of drug-resistant malaria. His work aimed to quantify the genetic background of previous emergence of malarial drug resistances to predict the risks posed today. OJ received exceptional permission to delay the start of his placement while he played an integral role in a COVID response project.
He is now a Lecturer and Research Fellow at Imperial College London.
OJ is motivated by reducing global health inequalities. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how fragile health systems are in the world and how quickly infectious diseases can alter how we live. He believes tackling infectious disease will only be possible through access to data in research practice and software development, central to which will be leaning on multiple disciplines to design the solutions needed to reduce health inequities across the world.