Ria Sinha is a Post-doctoral Fellow in Humanitarian Studies at the Centre for the Humanities and Medicine, The University of Hong Kong. After obtaining an undergraduate degree from King’s College, London in Biological Sciences/Parasitology an overriding interest in Parasitology developed into a PhD at Imperial College, London in collaboration with the Malaria Research Group at Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) in the Netherlands. Subsequent experimental research focused on the development of transgenic malaria parasites to further transmission blocking vaccine testing.

Her current research steps beyond the laboratory, to take an integrated cross-disciplinary approach to promote fresh thinking on the creative and practical challenges of translating progressive antimalaria technologies into the field. It considers scientific process, geopolitics, local ecologies and sociocultural issues as complex and dynamic determinants that play a key role in the success of novel antimalaria strategies.

Current project:
In the wake of failed international attempts to eradicate malaria, scientific research faces numerous challenges in the development and implementation of new and effective antimalaria tools. Drawing on the fields of medicine, science and technology, history, culture and geopolitics the project considers the need to diversify the search for new strategies to combat malaria. Focusing on Africa, the region with the highest burden of malaria, it considers the approach taken by emerging superpower China to aid antimalaria efforts across the continent and asks whether a humanitarian, or economic basis underpins Chinese motivations and if its strategy can have a humanitarian impact on the population.

Knowledge Exchange:
Awarded a 2014/15 Knowledge Exchange Grant to conduct a public exhibition on the ‘History of Malaria in Hong Kong’ at the Hong Kong Museum of the Medical Sciences.

Contact details
B905, 9/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3917 7309
E-Mail: riasinha@hku.hk