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PhD (Bioinformatics)
University of Pretoria, South Africa | 2018
MSc Biotechnology / Bioinformatics (Thesis-based)
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 2012
BSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Upper Second Class Honours, GPA 3.8)
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 2009
I am a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Tanzania, with expertise in bioinformatics, biotechnology, microbiology, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), infectious diseases, and health data science. My research focuses on integrating genomic, clinical, and microbiological data to understand disease mechanisms and improve infectious disease management in low-resource settings.
I have extensive experience working with large-scale genomic datasets, including Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of 1,213 sickle cell disease patients, and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma patients. My work bridges computational biology and clinical microbiology, with growing interest in machine learning and data-driven infectious disease surveillance systems.
In addition to genomic research, I actively contribute to antimicrobial resistance research through teaching, laboratory work, and supervision of student research projects focusing on hospital-acquired infections, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and infectious disease epidemiology. These experiences directly inform my interest in developing AMR-guided syndromic approaches to strengthen infectious disease diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring in resource-limited healthcare settings.
I am also contributing to teaching, research, supervising, examining and consultancy related to the fields of bioinformatics, biotechnology, microbiology and molecular biology.
2019–2021: UCGHI GloCal Health Fellowship
Medard, K., Mwita, L. & Mloka, D. A (2026). Assessment of antimicrobial knowledge storage, disposal practices, among household members of Kilosa District, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 27(3), 3430–3438 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/thrb.v27i3.10
Morrell, L., Tungu, M., Achola, C., Legason, I., Magorosa, E., Mapendo, P., Mnango, L., Mremi, A., Christopher, H., Adam Burns, Helene Dreau, Mihaela Leonte, Lulu Chirande, Salama Mahawi, Elifuraha Mkwizu, Hadija Mwamtemi, Godlove Sandi, Claire El Mouden, Anna Schuh, George Ruhago, Sarah Wordsworth, Pamela Atim, Clara Chamba, Faraja Chiwanga, Anthony Cutts, Claire El Moulden, Edrick M Elias, Philomena Goodluck, Oliver Henke, Kieran Howard, Jingjing Jiang, Daisy Jennings, Atukuzwe Kahakwa, Hadija Kaliisa, Jacqueline Kamanga, Ismail D Legason, Laura Lopez Pascua, Erick Marogosa, William F Mawalla, Sam M Mbulaiteye, Daniel Mbwambo, Liberata Mwita, Martin D Ogwang, Isaac Otim, Kate Ridout, Raphael Sangeda, Patricia Scanlan, Kristin Schroeder, Rehema Shungu, Paul Shadrack Ntemi, Dimitris Vavoulis (2025). Diagnosing Burkitt Lymphoma in Sub-Saharan Africa by Sequencing of Circulating Tumor DNA: A Comparative Microcosting Study. Value in Health Regional Issues, 48, 101113.
Mwita, L. A., Mawalla, W. F., Mtiiye, F. R., Kandonga, D., Kent, J., Makani, J., & Sangeda, R. Z. (2023). Infrastructure for bioinformatics applications in Tanzania: Lessons from the sickle cell programme. PLOS Computational Biology, 19(2), e1010848.
Guo CJ, Arora UP, Cheng X, et al. Human genetics implicates a BACH2-NRF2 axis in fetal haemoglobin activation. Nature. Published online September 30, 2026. doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11113-2
