1. Sir Alimuddin Zumla was born on 15 May 1955 and is a British-Zambian professor of infectious diseases and international health at University College London Medical School, and a Consultant Infectious Diseases physician at UCLHospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Alimuddin Zumla was awarded a Knighthood in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honours list for services to public health and protection from infectious disease.
In 2021 Sir Alimuddin Zumla was elected as Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences.
Alimuddin "Ali" Zumla was born in Northern Rhodesia.
Alimuddin Zumla did his early education at the Lotus Primary School and Prince Philip Secondary School in Lusaka, and his medical training at the University of Zambia's School of Medicine.
In 1980, Alimuddin Zumla moved to London to pursue an MSc in tropical medicine at the University of London.
Alimuddin Zumla spent a year at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine gaining the MSc degree in Clinical Tropical Diseases with a distinction and the Murgratroyd Prize.
Alimuddin Zumla subsequently worked at The Royal Northern and Royal Free Hospitals under the mentorship of David Geraint James obtaining his Membership of The Royal College of Physicians of London.
Alimuddin Zumla then returned to his native Zambia to work on AIDS-related opportunistic infections at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka before moving to University College London in 1994.
Alimuddin Zumla was the guest editor of the Lancet TB Series which addressed key issues around TB treatment and diagnosis.
Alimuddin Zumla's work focuses on improving global health, especially for disadvantaged populations, with an emphasis on assisting poorer and disadvantaged peoples of the world.
In 2014, together with colleagues from Public Health England, World Health Organization, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the Middle East, Alimuddin Zumla co-led The Lancet series on Mass Gatherings Medicine which was launched at the World Health Assembly of Ministers of Health in Geneva.
Alimuddin Zumla played a lead role in defining the etiology, epidemiology, virology, pathogenesis, mode of transmission, diagnosis, management and infection control measures of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
Alimuddin Zumla was Member of Court of Governors of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, under the directorship of Sir Andrew Haines.
Alimuddin Zumla was vice president of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Alimuddin Zumla served as Vice Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership.
In 2020, Alimuddin Zumla was cited as a leading expert on the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021 Alimuddin Zumla was elected as Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences whose principal aim is to promote scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in developing countries.
Alimuddin Zumla is the first ethnic minority recipient of this award since its conception in 1923.