Strengthening Leadership for the Next Phase

Under the new structure, leadership responsibilities are shared across three key roles, each contributing essential expertise to the programme’s success:

 

Dr Chris Clarkson – Director, MalariaGEN UK

Dr Chris Clarkson serves as Director for MalariaGEN’s UK base at LSTM, providing overall strategic and scientific leadership. With a background in malaria vector biology and genomics, Chris has played a central role in advancing MalariaGEN’s research agenda, particularly in the application of genomic data to understand vector diversity, evolution, and resistance.

Chris has extensive experience working across international research collaborations and is deeply committed to ensuring that genomic data is translated into actionable insights for malaria control programmes. Having invested more than a decade in MalariaGEN, Chris’ new role spans the MalariaGEN UK operation, including parasite and vector, allowing MalariaGEN to leverage his deep knowledge of the data, science and community.

“MalariaGEN has always been about the power of partnership - bringing together researchers, data, and expertise from across the world to address complex challenges. This new structure allows us to better connect our science across parasite and vector communities, focusing on impact, ensuring that genomic insights are meaningfully integrated into malaria control and elimination efforts.”

 

Anastasia Hernandez-Koutoucheva – Chief Technology and Data Officer

Anastasia Hernandez-Koutoucheva serves as Chief Technology and Data Officer, leading MalariaGEN’s approach to data systems, infrastructure, and the effective use of parasite and vector genomic and epidemiological data across the network.

With a strong background in data strategy, technology infrastructure and organisational leadership, Anastasia focuses on ensuring that MalariaGEN’s platforms and processes enable equitable, secure, and high-impact data sharing. She plays a critical role in strengthening the technological foundations that underpin the programme’s global research collaborations. Since joining MalariaGEN in 2020, Anastasia has been crucial to the core technology and data operations, driving forward solutions that meet our aspirations for scalability and sustainability.

“High-quality, accessible data sits at the heart of MalariaGEN’s work. Our goal is to ensure that the systems and infrastructure we build not only support world-class science, but also enable our partners to access, use, and benefit from data in ways that are equitable, efficient, and impactful.”

 

Dr Vikki Simpson – Chief Business and Community Officer

Dr Vikki Simpson serves as Chief Business and Community Officer, leading MalariaGEN’s approach to partnerships, external engagement, and long-term sustainability.

With experience spanning global health, strategy, and stakeholder engagement, Vikki focuses on strengthening relationships across the MalariaGEN network while building new collaborations with funders, policymakers, and research partners. Her role bridges science and strategy, ensuring that MalariaGEN’s work is well-positioned for growth and real-world impact. With more than 15 years of experience working with human, parasite and vector communities, Vikki continues to lead of business and community operations for MalariaGEN.

“MalariaGEN’s strength lies in its global community. My focus is on ensuring we continue to build strong, trusted partnerships and communicate the value of our work clearly - so that together we can drive forward investment, collaboration, and impact in the fight against malaria.”

 

Looking Ahead

This new structure reflects a shared commitment to collaboration, innovation, and impact. By bringing together complementary expertise across science, technology, data, and partnerships, MalariaGEN is strengthening its ability to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities in malaria genomics.

For clarity, the scientific leadership of individual projects and programmes continues as before. This refreshed leadership structure introduces greater cross-functional overarching leadership across science, data, and partnerships to break down silos, encourage collaboration, and ensure that priorities are shared and mutually reinforcing.

As the programme looks ahead, it remains focused on its core principles: enabling equitable access to genomic data, supporting researchers and public health practitioners in malaria-endemic regions, and contributing to global efforts to reduce - and ultimately eliminate - malaria.

We look forward to continuing this work alongside our partners and the wider global health community.