Professor Paolo Denti

Professor Paolo Denti obtained his MSc (Computer Engineering) at the University of Padua, Italy, followed by a PhD (Biomedical Engineering) at the same university, with a collaboration with the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. He joined the Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town (UCT), in April 2009, where he leads the UCT Pharmacometrics research group. This is a team of researchers (including PhD students and post-doctoral fellows) using mathematical models to improve our understanding of the pharmacology of drugs used for tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria. The team’s research focuses on optimisation of dosing regimens (especially neglected populations such as pregnancy and paediatrics) and the management of drug-drug interactions. The team’s research efforts have contributed to the revision of the World Health Organisation paediatric dosing guidelines for tuberculosis and HIV. Since 2012, Prof Denti has been spearheading initiatives to develop pharmacometrics skills in Africa, first with support from pharma industry, and currently under the umbrella of Pharmacometrics (PMX) Africa non-profit organization. The organisation uses a combination of online and more traditional didactical tools and has been hosting workshops in multiple countries on the continent, reaching over 100 students and young researchers.