Tag: UNC Project-Malawi

Mitch Matoga, MD, MSc, PhD, a physician-scientist with UNC Project-Malawi, has been selected to serve as a member of the World Health Organization’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Sexually Transmitted Infections. Dr. Matoga was one of 23 applicants (out of 280) selected to serve in the TAG for HIV, Hepatitis...

Laika Maganga, a PhD candidate at the School of Nursing and UJMT Fogarty Fellow, is doing her dissertation research in Malawi, drawing on her family roots while centering the lived experiences of young women to take on HIV stigma and support healthier futures.   How has your training and clinical work...

From infectious disease threats to rapidly shifting policy landscapes—the work of emerging global health scholars has never been more vital. Resilience is no longer just an aspiration; it is a defining requirement for researchers striving to strengthen health systems, protect vulnerable populations, and advance equity in places where resources are...

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) remains one of the most aggressive and least understood subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, particularly in regions with high HIV prevalence. Despite its severity, data from sub-Saharan Africa have been limited, constraining clinicians and policymakers in developing effective strategies for early detection and treatment. At the First Annual...

The African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) held the 15th international conference on cancer from November 2-5, in Hammamet, Tunisia. UNC Project Malawi investigators participated, with groundbreaking presentations from Dr. Amon Chirwa, cancer medical officer; Tarsizious Chikaonda, data scientist and study coordinator for the TINY Ulysses Study;...

Supported by a Conquer Cancer grant, Matthew Painschab, MD, a member of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, helps improve outcomes for patients through optimizing infection management and mitigating antibiotic resistance. As an assistant professor of medicine. He spends much of...

Hallie Stallings’ goal is to help everyone have access to a high-quality education. At UNC-Chapel Hill, the senior is using resources from her majors and experiences abroad to support that mission. Stallings knew she would major in public policy just a few weeks into Patricia Sullivan’s “Global Policy Issues” class. The introductory...

Africa faces a rapidly growing cancer burden, driven by both population growth and the high prevalence of HIV.  By 2030, cancer incidence in Africa is expected to double, and by 2040, low- and middle-income countries are expected to account for 70% of global cancer deaths. The number of people with...

Matthew Painschab, MD, has been accepted into the 2025-26 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Leadership Development Program. He is one of 16 program participants chosen nationally, to cultivate valuable leadership skills and impact the future of cancer care. Dr. Painschab is a member of the Institute for Global Health...

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Malawi, frequent stockouts of essential medicines and the widespread dispensing of antibiotics without prescriptions have exacerbated the AMR burden, highlighting the urgent need for robust antimicrobial stewardship interventions. A study led by researchers at UNC...

Charles Junior Mwansambo completed six years of training in Malawi, including one year of pre-med, before he began the year-long application process that would bring him to UNC Hospitals for a medical student exchange. Currently, he’s wrapping up a two-month program with the UNC School of Medicine and says he’s...

In the U.S., cancer diagnosis often involves costly biopsies and tests. In the south African country of Malawi, where the average annual income is around $300, patients can rarely afford such procedures — yet accurate diagnoses remain essential. To help, staff of the long-standing UNC Project Malawi Cancer Program are...