BOTSWANA RESEARCHER COMPLETES PHD AND BECOMES FIRST TAGENDI FELLOW TO ACHIEVE THIS MILESTONE

Dr Tuelo Mogashoa, from the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), recently completed her PhD, becoming the first fellow of the TAGENDi programme (TESA Addressing Regional Gaps in Gender and Diversity in Clinical Research Capacity) under the TESA (Trial of Excellence in Southern Africa) consortium, which is coordinated by the Manhiça Health Research Centre.

Her doctoral thesis, titled “Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: an emerging threat to human health in Botswana”, addresses one of the most urgent challenges in tuberculosis control.

The researcher’s journey within TESA began in 2019, when she took on the coordination of TESA activities at BHP. In this role, she was responsible for supervising students, ensuring deadlines were met, and managing technical and financial reports. According to the newly graduated PhD holder, the experience was initially marked by challenges, including language barriers when working with international partners. “I learned a lot about project management, financial management, and the importance of meeting deadlines and being accountable for every resource used,” she noted.

In 2021, with the launch of the TAGENDI programme (focused on advanced training for women), she decided to apply, despite uncertainties about balancing her role as coordinator and PhD candidate. Encouraged by mentors, she registered, officially enrolling only in 2022, making her the last student to join the programme. This delay placed her at a disadvantage compared to her peers, as she participated in early meetings without research results, presenting only proposals and objectives.

“I wondered whether I would be able to finish on time, because I had already lost a year and a PhD requires a lot of time,” she recalls.

At the same time, she set herself an ambitious goal of publishing four scientific articles, an objective many considered unrealistic. Nevertheless, she not only achieved it, but all four papers were accepted for publication before her graduation. Her first published article was, in fact, the first among TAGENDI fellows.

Her research focused on the application of whole genome sequencing technology to characterize drug-resistant tuberculosis cases. The study demonstrated that this approach can identify resistance to multiple drugs in a single test, unlike conventional methods, which are limited. It also showed that some currently used tests may fail to detect resistance, reinforcing the importance of more advanced solutions to improve diagnosis, especially in complex cases.

“Hard work, perseverance, and belief” were the guiding principles of her journey, marked by discipline and the ability to balance professional and academic responsibilities.

As a mother, she considers her PhD a role model for her daughters and for other women, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve high-level academic goals. The completion of her PhD also reinforces the role of the TAGENDI programme in promoting gender equity in scientific research in Africa, contributing to an increase in the number of women with doctorates and strengthening scientific capacity across the continent.

Her journey was also marked by financial challenges. At one point, initial funding was exhausted, but additional support enabled her to continue her research, attend scientific conferences, and cover essential costs.

From a professional perspective, completing her PhD opens new opportunities for research funding and independent research development. Dr. Mogashoa now intends to establish her own research group and contribute to improving tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment policies and practices in Botswana and across Africa.

With this achievement, Dr. Tuelo Mogashoa not only consolidates her scientific career but also stands as a reference and inspiration for the next generation of African women researchers.

It should be noted that TAGENDI is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), in collaboration with the Government of the United Kingdom, to support global health research as part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union. The project aims to strengthen female participation in clinical research, promoting greater inclusion and equity in the Southern African region.