2022: Manson Medal[1] 2021: EU-EDCTP Pascoal Mocumbi Prize[2] 2020: Mahathir Science Award[3][4] 2018: The Union Medal[5] 2015: Contribution to World Class Research Award[6] 2014: Donald Mackay Medal[7] 2012: Karolinska Institutet Science Award[8] 2011: WHO Stop TB Partnership, Kochon Foundation Prize and Medal[9] 2000: The Albert Chalmers Medal[10] 1999: Weber-Parkes Trust Medal[11]
Zumla spent a year at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine gaining the MSc degree in Clinical Tropical Diseases with a distinction and the Murgratroyd Prize. He subsequently worked at The Royal Northern and Royal Free Hospitals under the mentorship of David Geraint James obtaining his Membership of The Royal College of Physicians of London.[citation needed]
After doing a PhD between 1985 and 1987, Zumla worked as infectious diseases registrar and at the Rush Green Regional Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Romford under Ming Yong and Mervyn Medlock. Whilst working at Rush Green Hospital, he identified and notified the first cases of the 1988 Legionnaires' Diseases outbreak which he traced back to Broadcasting House, BBC, central London.[34]
In 2003, there were media reports about a paper of Zumla's in The Lancet discussing a new test developed by a team he led for monitoring CD4 immune cell counts based on dried blood samples.[36] Such counts are used in monitoring AIDS patients taking antiretroviral drug treatments; Zumla's subsequent work has led to development and evaluation of a range of rapid, cheap and more accessible diagnostic tests for TB and respiratory infections for use on patients in developing countries.[37][38]
Zumla was the guest editor of the Lancet TB Series which addressed key issues around TB treatment and diagnosis. The launch was held at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva on 18 May 2010.[39]
As of 2011[update], Zumla is the director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases and International Health at University College London Medical School, as well as a consultant in infectious diseases at University College Hospital. His research interests include tuberculosis (particularly drug clinical trials, biomarkers, MDR-TB and TB in London), HIV/AIDS, tropical diseases, respiratory infections (and rapid diagnostics thereof), endocarditis, biomarkers, and transrenal DNA.[40]
Zumla's work focuses on improving global health, especially for disadvantaged populations, with an emphasis on assisting poorer and disadvantaged peoples of the world. He established and directs a multi-country collaboration with several African, Middle Eastern, European and United States institutions on collaborative research and training program on TB and HIV/AIDS.[16][9] Zumla and his collaborators have set up research and training programs in Africa, focusing attention on development of local infrastructure and capacity development.[41] Several of his doctoral students now occupy academic positions in institutions in Africa.[27]
Zumla has established north–south partnerships for TB research. His collaborations span five countries in Europe and 10 in sub-Saharan Africa, where he leads several multi-country research projects. His team's research findings have contributed to the development of WHO's management guidelines on treatment and prevention of TB and TB/HIV, and to improvements in the care of patients worldwide.[42]
In 2014, together with colleagues from Public Health England, World Health Organization, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Middle East, Zumla co-led The Lancet series on Mass Gatherings Medicine which was launched at the World Health Assembly of Ministers of Health in Geneva. This was a Series of reports about different mass gatherings: the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; the 2012 European Football Championship finals, hosted jointly by Poland and Ukraine; and the 2012 and 2013 Hajj. These reports set out the planning and surveillance systems used to monitor public health risks, and describe the public health experiences and lessons learnt for the planning of future events.[43]
Zumla has served on numerous international advisory groups. He was Member of Court of Governors of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2007–2014), under the directorship of Sir Andrew Haines.[46] He was vice president of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2003–2005).[47][48] He served as Vice Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership(2014–2016)[49]
On 7 April 2015, at an inaugural meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, Zumla and Markus Maeurer from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden led and established a new initiative, the Host-Directed Therapies Network (HDT-NET) consortium of 64 global partners to tackle global infectious diseases threats of multi-drug resistant TB and antimicrobial resistance.[50]
In 2021 Zumla was elected as Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences whose principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in developing countries.[25][26]
In 2022 Zumla was profiled in the Lancet.[52] On 12 October 2022, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene awarded Zumla the Sir Patrick Manson Medal, their highest mark of distinction. Zumla is the first ethnic minority recipient of this award since its conception in 1923.[53][54]
Recognises researchers in tropical medicine or global health who demonstrate evidence of mentoring and professional development of junior investigators, and other forms of capacity building.
The highest Zambian civilian award. Bestowed on Zumla on the 48th anniversary of Zambia's Independence (October 2012) by then Zambian president Michael Sata for his outstanding contributions to infectious diseases research in sub-Saharan Africa, development of Zambia's health sector, and training of numerous health personnel.
NIHR Senior Investigators are 'among the most prominent and prestigious researchers' and the most outstanding leaders within the NIHR Faculty. Senior Investigators are appointed from NIHR Investigators through annual competitions informed by the advice of an international panel of experts.
NIHR Senior Investigators are 'among the most prominent and prestigious researchers' and the most outstanding leaders within the NIHR Faculty. Senior Investigators are appointed from NIHR Investigators through annual competitions informed by the advice of an international panel of experts.
The Sir Patrick Manson Medal is the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's highest mark of distinction. It is awarded once every three years to senior experts whose contribution to tropical medicine or hygiene is considered to merit the honour most.
"Everyone should hold hands together and move forward in the fight against killer infectious diseases"
Selected works
Zumla has authored more than 700 publications and edited/published 21 medical textbooks, three of which are globally acknowledged classics: Manson's Tropical Diseases 21st and 22nd editions, Tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Clinical Reference which involves 156 global TB experts writing 104 chapters on all aspects of paediatric and adult TB, and Granulomatous Disorders co-edited with D. G. James.[72]
Zumla, Alimuddin; Schaaf, H. Simon (2009), Tuberculosis: An Issue of Clinics in Chest Medicine, Elsevier – Health Sciences Division, ISBN978-1-4377-1804-1
Zumla, Alimuddin; Behrens, Ronald H.; Memish, Ziad A. (2012), Travel Medicine, An Issue of Infectious Disease Clinics (1st ed.), Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, ISBN9781455748983, OCLC815361562
H. Simon Schaaf and Alimuddin Zumla, Tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Clinical Reference
Zumla A., Raviglione M., Hafner R., Fordham, von Reyn C. (2013). "Tuberculosis". New England Journal of Medicine. 368 (8): 745–755. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1200894. PMID23425167.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Nunn, Andrew J.; Mwaba, Peter B.; Chintu, Chifumbe; Crook, Angela M.; Darbyshire, Janet H.; Ahmed, Yusuf; Zumla, Alimuddin I. (April 2011), "Randomised, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate co-trimoxazole to reduce mortality and morbidity in HIV-infected post-natal women in Zambia (TOPAZ)", Tropical Medicine & International Health, 16 (4): 518–526, doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02731.x, PMID21281407, S2CID31384786
Griffiths, C.; Sturdy, P.; Brewin, P.; Bothamley, G.; Eldridge, S.; Martineau, A.; MacDonald, M.; Ramsay, J.; Tibrewal, S.; Levi, S.; Zumla, A.; Feder, G. (2007). "Educational outreach to promote screening for tuberculosis in primary care: A cluster randomised controlled trial". The Lancet. 369 (9572): 1528–34. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60707-7. PMID17482983. S2CID9170497.
Chintu, C.; Bhat, G. J.; Walker, A. S.; Mulenga, V.; Sinyinza, F.; Lishimpi, K.; Farrelly, L.; Kaganson, N.; Zumla, A.; Gillespie, S. H.; Nunn, A. J.; Gibb, D. M. (2004). "Co-trimoxazole as prophylaxis against opportunistic infections in HIV-infected Zambian children (CHAP): A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial". The Lancet. 364 (9448): 1865–71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17442-4. PMID15555666. S2CID503777.
Mwaba, P.; Cassol, S.; Pilon, R.; Chintu, C.; Janes, M.; Nunn, A.; Zumla, A. (2003), "Use of dried whole blood spots to measure CD4+ lymphocyte counts in HIV-1-infected patients", The Lancet, 362 (9394): 1459–60, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14693-4, PMID14602443, S2CID34623423
Mwaba, P.; Cassol, S.; Nunn, A.; Pilon, R.; Chintu, C.; Janes, M.; Zumla, A. (2003), "Whole blood versus plasma spots for measurement of HIV-1 viral load in HIV-infected African patients", The Lancet, 362 (9401): 2067–8, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)15103-3, PMID14697808, S2CID21275947
Chintu, C.; Mudenda, V.; Lucas, S.; Nunn, A.; Lishimpi, K.; Maswahu, D.; Kasolo, F.; Mwaba, P.; Bhat, G.; Terunuma, H.; Zumla, A. (2002), "Lung diseases at necropsy in African children dying from respiratory illnesses: a descriptive necropsy study", The Lancet, 360 (9338): 985–90, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11082-8, PMID12383668, S2CID32379604
Mwinga, A.; Nunn, A.; Ngwira, B.; Chintu, C.; Warndorff, D.; Fine, P.; Darbyshire, J.; Zumla, A. (2002), "Mycobacterium vaccae (SRL172) immunotherapy as an adjunct to standard antituberculosis treatment in HIV-infected adults with pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomised placebo-controlled trial", The Lancet, 360 (9339): 1050–5, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11141-X, PMID12383985, S2CID20654344
^RSTMH. "Archived copy"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), The Weber Parkes Trust Medal and Prize, 199 Vol 7 No. 3-page 5. Retrieved on 23 November 2014.
^Zumla, Alimuddin (1987), Characterisation of human monoclonal antibodies to phenolic glycolipid-1 from patients with leprosy and production of their anti-idiotypes, PhD dissertation, London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. See library record here.
^Pearson, Helen (31 October 2003), "Cheap test monitors HIV drugs: Dried blood spots could track developing world treatment success", Nature News, doi:10.1038/news031027-11
^"Previous medal winners". The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2021.