Christine Ann Facer Known internationally for her scientific contributions to the
understanding of the anaemia and pathogenesis of African trypanosomiasis and malaria
in African children for which she was awarded the prestigious Wright Medal of the British
Society for Parasitology. She has similarly made significant contributions to the
immunogenetics, immunopathology and epidemiology of the most common childhood
cancer of African children, endemic Burkitt's lymphoma. The seroepidemiology of HIV-1
in Kenyan children and the importance of blood transfusion in transmission of the virus
has been studied. She has lived in the Gambia and Kenya and spent time researching in
Brazil and Colombia. Research grants have been secured from The Royal Society and
The Welcome Trust. She was a major contributor to the national and international debate
on the safety of the antimalarial drug Lariam appearing frequently in discussion on the
BBC1 TV programme 'Watchdog".
Previous activities:
- Reader in Tropical Haematology: Department of Haematology, St. Bartholomew's & the Royal London School of Medicine & Dentistry
- Honorary Consultant in Haematology and Top Grade Scientist in haematology to the Tower Hamlets Health Authority
- Freelance writing and lecturing
- President of the British Society for Parasitology
- Director and Chairman of the British Society for Parasitology
- External Examiner, Kenyatta University, Kenya
- Committee Member of the UK Malaria Advisory Committee
- Member of the Medical Research Council Interview and Appointments Committee
- Trustee and Council Member, The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Chairman, Meetings Committee, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Chairman, Malaria Committee of the British Society for Parasitology
- Honorary Meetings Secretary of the British Society for Parasitology. Responsible for organizing and, in some cases, convening, several meetings each year the majority of which were of international standing.
- Trustee and Council Member of the British Society for Parasitology
Has travelled and worked in The Gambia; Northern Kenya (Kisumu); Colombia; Brazil;
France and Holland. Many invited lectures and research presentations in Nairobi, Banjul,
New York, Bogata, Bangkok, Athens, Paris, Avignon, Annecy, Athens, Amsterdam, Basel, Geneva.
Refereeing research grant applications
Peer reviewed research grant applications for:
The Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, World Health Organization,
Nuffield Foundation, Health Research Board of Southern Ireland.
Membership
British Society for Parasitology, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene,
The Linnean Society of London, Institute of Biology
Publications
60 peer reviewed research papers in international journals, 11 book chapters,
many published reports of meetings.
Editorial & Refereeing
The Lancet; Clinical & Experimental Immunology; British Journal of Haematology; Parasitology;
Parasite Immunology; Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene; Journal
of Immunological Methods; Annals of Tropical Paediatrics; Biomedical Science.
Media
As an internationally recognised authority on malaria, has given interviews for radio and invited
appearances on television including BBC TV Morning News, BBC TV World Service, BBC radio
World Service, BBC1 TV World in Action, BBC1 TV Watchdog, BBC TV Tomorrow's World.
Many interviews with scientific and medical correspondents of the national press, scientific medical
journals. Has advised the Director of POST (Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology).
Provided assistance with (including script writing) and appearance on, a film made by the
government's Central Office of Information (COI) about malaria.