Professor Rashida Abbas Ferrand

Rashida Ferrand is a physician, epidemiologist, and implementation scientist whose research focuses on the effective deployment of sexually transmitted infection (STI) diagnostics in low- and middle-income settings. Over the past 2 decades, she has conducted research in southern Africa and Pakistan on sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and other infectious diseases.

Her current work includes studies evaluating the impact of STI screening during pregnancy on maternal and birth outcomes, approaches to simplify syphilis treatment in pregnancy, and the consequences of vertical transmission of STIs, including congenital syphilis and neonatal conjunctivitis.

She also leads research on blood-borne virus transmission and the integration of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV screening into antenatal care. She holds academic appointments at Aga Khan University, Pakistan; the Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Zimbabwe; and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.