Dr Elizabeth Mathai

I am a clinical microbiologist with higher educational qualifications in Microbiology, international health and in tropical medicine.

I have extensive international experience in laboratory, clinical and public health related research, teaching and patient services. I have worked in countries with varying resource capacities such as India, Fiji, Sweden, the United Kingdom and in World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

I have worked for over 30 years on bacterial diseases including antimicrobial resistance (AMR), infection prevention and control.

For 10 years, I worked for WHO, Geneva. My work involved evidence assessment and synthesis, facilitating expert group interactions, collaborations with UN and other agencies, publications, country support on topics such as infection control, AMR, medicines use and access, substances of abuse and Ebola.

Prior to that I was Professor in Clinical Microbiology in a premier institution in India and was involved actively in teaching, clinical service and in basic science, clinical and public health research. I also had significant administrative and managerial responsibilities.

Current affiliations

I am currently retired after about 35 years of active service and currently hold honorary position with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland - 2006 to 2015 (Technical Officer and Consultant)

Christian Medical College, Vellore Tamil Nadu, India - 1981 to 2006 (Demonstrator to Professor)

Fiji School of Medicine, Suva, Fiji - 1996 to 1997 (while on sabbatical leave from Christian Medical College)

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine -1986-1988 (while on study leave from Christian Medical College)

I have over 30 years of teaching and research experience

I have taught undergraduate and postgraduate medical and paramedical courses and have been examiner for different medical and paramedical degrees awarded by the University and National Board of examinations in India. I have participated in development and introduction of integrated learning modules in the curriculum of the medical college.

I have also taught, examined and developed educational materials at the Fiji School of Medicine

While in WHO I participated in developing training modules and their implementation

Over the past two years I have contributed to teaching MSc students at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

I have over 100 research publications. I have also contributed to several evidence-based publications by WHO

My research involved collaboration with reputed institutes such as Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Sweden, Trinity College Dublin and institutions in India and Fiji.

During the past year I have contributed to research in Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine by contributing to developing research projects for funding. One grant application for a European Community research grant, to understand burden of some vaccine preventable infections in sub Saharan Africa, was successful. I am continuing to help with this project as the Microbiology consultant.