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I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Tanzania. I earned my Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, followed by a Master of Philosophy in Dentistry (MPhilDent) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Community Dentistry from the University of Bergen, Norway. I serve as the Chair of the School of Dentistry Curriculum Development Committee at MUHAS. At the university level, I am a member of the MUHAS Senate Research, Publications and Innovation Committee and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Research Interests
My research interests focus on training and medical education, geriatric oral health (gerontology), oral health and quality of life, dental biomaterials, and the relationship between oral health and non-communicable diseases, particularly sickle cell disease. My work aims to generate evidence that informs clinical practice, health policy, and educational strategies to improve oral and general health outcomes across diverse populations.
Activities
My academic activities include teaching, curriculum development, research, clinical practice, and academic service. I teach Dental Biomaterials and Geriatric Dentistry to both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the School of Dentistry and provide clinical care through the MUHAS Dental Clinic. I also teach a cross-cutting course, Educational principles and practices for Health Sciences Professionals to MUHAS postgraduate students and supervise research projects to Undergraduates, Masters and PhD student, as well as young emerging researchers. In addition, I contribute to curriculum development and research capacity strengthening through various institutions, including MUHAS and collaborative initiatives. I currently serve as Co-Principal Investigator for the Sickle Cell Program (Compliance) and as the Skills Development Coordinator for the Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO) at both the Hub (currently the Clinical Coordinating Center) and Tanzania site levels. Regarding my teaching experience and my understanding of the challenges of healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings, I coordinate the development of training curricula and organize and deliver short courses on sickle cell disease for healthcare professionals and researchers. These initiatives aim to strengthen research capacity and improve the quality of sickle cell disease care in Tanzania and across sub-Saharan Africa.
1. Establishment of joint research-based education in dentistry in Norway and East Africa.
Funder: NORPART
Role: Management team Tanzania.
Collaborators: University of Bergen, Norway, University of Makerere – Uganda, Univ. Addis Ababa – Ethiopia, Univ. of Khartoum and Univ. of Scince & Technology – Sudan.
2. Sickle Pan Africa Research Consortium SPARCO.
Funder: NHLBI (NIH)
Role: Skills Development coordinator – SPARCO - Tanzania site; Skills Technical Lead – SPARCO – Clinical Coordinating Center.
Collaborators: University of Abuja – Nigeria, University of Cape Town – South Africa, Kwame Nkurumah University of Science and Technology – Ghana, new sites: Mali, Uganda and Zambia/Zimbabwe.
Recent five publications
1. Irene Kida Minja (2025) Dental Health Epidemiology. In: Quah, S. (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 3rd Edition. vol. 6, pp. 266-274. UK: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99967-0.00071-5
2. IK Minja, N Sirili, AK Hamad, E Tarimo, D Mloka, S Macfarlane, P O'Sullivan, LT Mselle. Readiness of medical universities in Tanzania to implement competency-based curricula using e-learning in teaching and assessment: an exploratory qualitative case study. BMC Med Educ 26, 21 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08360-8
3. Minja IK, Nkya S, Bukini D, Mahenge N, Masamu U, Manongi J, Mgaya J, Mtiiye F, Nkanyemka M, Kisali EP, Mwinchande Mahawi I, Rifai A, Jonathan A, Nembaware V, Jonas M, Mulder N, Namazi R, Munube D, Paintsil V, Sangeda RZ, Ackerman H, Parker R, Sarfo FS, Guindo A, Nnodu OE, Balandya E, Kiguli S, Chunda-Liyoka C, Kuona P, Peprah E, Kamuhabwa A, Makani J. Strengthening global partnerships for sustainable sickle cell disease care: insights from SickleInAfrica at the 77th United Nations General Assembly and the US-Africa Leaders' Summit. BMJ Glob Health. 2025 Mar 13;10(3):e017154. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017154. PMID: 40086800; PMCID: PMC11907018.
4. Whitefrank Frank, Irene Kida Minja. (2024) Dental amalgam phase-down as conventional restorative material: Knowledge and Attitudes of dental practitioners in Dar es salaam. Tanzania Dental and Health Sciences Journal, 21 (Spec. 3): 11—18.
5. Morrice, J., Mupfururirwa, W., Chianumba, R.I., Amuzu, E.X., Kandonga, D., Nembaware, V., Jonas, M., Hotchkiss, J., Masamu, U., Nguweneza, A., Mmbando, B.P., Minja, I., Jonathan, A., Mulder, N., Balandya, E., Osei-Akoto, A., Paintsil, V., Makani, J., Nnodu, O., , Sangeda, R.Z., Kengne, A.P., Kuzamunu, G. and Wonkam, A. (2025), Sickle Cell Disease in Africa: SickleInAfrica Registry in Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania. eJHaem, 6: e70044. https://doi.org/10.1002/jha2.70044
