Professor Jo-Ann Passmore
Affiliations
- Full Member, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine
- Head, Mucosal Immunology Group, Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology;
- Principle Medical Scientist, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) Joint Staff.
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research inAfrica (CIDRI-Africa)
Key Expertise
HIV
Main Research Focus
Jo-Ann Passmore is a leading mucosal immunologist whose research focuses on genital tract immune responses linked to susceptibility and protection against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and HPV. Her work has advanced our understanding of mucosal immunity by identifying key biomarkers—such as genital inflammation, immune activation, and HIV-specific immune responses—that influence HIV acquisition risk in women. She has played a pioneering role in the development of innovative tools and therapies aimed at improving women's sexual and reproductive health. This includes the development and field testing of the Genital Inflammation Test (GIFT) device—a point-of-care tool designed to detect genital inflammation and enable early intervention to reduce HIV risk. She is also leading the development of ecologically tailored live biotherapeutics for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis in African women through the Vaginal Microbiome Research Consortium for Africa. Jo-Ann’s contributions to science and innovation have earned her international recognition. She was selected for the prestigious Gates Foundation Calestous Juma Fellowship for Leadership in Global Health Innovation (2021-2026), as well as the UK Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowship (2020-2021).
Most Significant Paper Authored in 2024
Passmore J-AS, Ngcapu S, Gitome S, Kullin BR, Welp K, Martin DP, Potloane D, Manhanzva MT,Obimbo MM, Gill K, Fevre ML, Happel A-U, Jaspan HB, Kasaro M and Bukusi EA (2024).
This paper underscores the critical need for geography-informed approaches to treating bacterial vaginosis (BV) in African women, highlighting the unique composition and ecological complexity of the African vaginal microbiome. It challenges the “one-size-fits-all” model of probiotic and biotherapeutic development by showing how host genetics, local microbial strains, and socio-behavioral factors shape BV risk and treatment outcomes. By advocating for regionally tailored microbiome interventions, the paper sets the foundation for developing effective live biotherapeutics that can reduce BV recurrence and HIV susceptibility, particularly in underserved populations. It positions African-specific data as essential to global reproductive health innovation.