Dr. Milcah Dhoro

Qualifications:

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacogenetics, University of Zimbabwe, 2015. Master of Philosophy Molecular Biology, University of Zimbabwe, 2010. Bachelor of Science Honors Biological Sciences, Midlands State University, 2004.

Academic Appointments:

Senior Lecturer

Research Interests:

Pharmacogenetics
Human health and genomics
Biobanking and research
Molecular Diagnostics

Faculty: Medicine And Health Sciences

Department: Clinical Pharmacology

Research Category: Pharmacy

Biography:

Dr. Dhoro has more than 15 years of experience in the field of molecular biology in particular human genetics. Her research interests focus on understanding the effects of patient genetic variability with respect to disease susceptibility and response to medicines, towards the discovery of safer and effective medicines, and the development of diagnostic tools that can contribute to improved disease detection, treatment, and monitoring. After successful completion of her DPhil studies in 2015, she received a Fogarty/NIH Global Health Scholars fellowship to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship. During this time she managed to receive various trainings genetic testing and immunoassays at the University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Medicine, United Kingdom; Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Maryland, USA and the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard in Boston, respectively. In August 2017, she received an award to attend a one-month-long International Summit in Human Genetics and Genomics which was hosted by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes of Health, USA. In 2019, she enrolled into a two-year Medical Genetics and Genomics Certificate program offered by the National Human Genome Research Institute at the NIH, USA and completed it in 2021.
In addition to her research interests, Dr. Dhoro is a co-director and representative of the university in the SPARK-Global community- a partnership between universities and industries founded by Professor Daria Mochly-Rosen in 2006 at Stanford University in the USA. This global community provides the education and mentorship necessary for translational research.

Dr. Dhoro is also a member of the Biobank and Cohort Network (BCNet) International Working Group- a network set up to address challenges in biobanking and research including ethical, legal, and social issues.

Email: drmilcah@gmail.com

Phone: Office +263242791631 Ext 2120 Mobile +263772391978

Publications:

1. Muzoriana N, Gavi S, Nembaware V, Dhoro M, Matimba A., (2017). Knowledge, Attitude, and Perceptions of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students towards Pharmacogenomics in Zimbabwe. Pharmacy, 5(36). https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy5030036

2. Dhoro M., (2017). CYP2B6*6 Screening; Potential Benefits and Challenges in HIV Therapy in Sub- Saharan Africa. Journal of Clinical & Cellular Immunology, 8(2). DOI: 10.4172/2155-9899.1000491.

3. Matimba A, Tybring G, Chitereka J, Zinyama-Gutsire R, Dandara C, Bürén E, Dhoro M, Masimirembwa C., (2016). Practical Approach to Biobanking in Zimbabwe: Establishment of an Inclusive Stakeholder Framework. Biopreserv Biobank, 14(5):440-446. DOI: 10.1089/bio.2015.0043.

4. Matimba A, Dhoro M, Dandara C., (2016). Is there a role of pharmacogenomics in Africa? Global Health, Epidemiology and Genomics, DOI: 10.1017/gheg.2016.4.

5. Dhoro M, Zvada S, Ngara B, Nhachi C, Kadzirange G, Chonzi P, Masimirembwa C., (2015). CYP2B6*6, CYP2B6*18, Body weight and sex are predictors of efavirenz pharmacokinetics and treatment response: population pharmacokinetic modeling in an HIV/AIDS and TB cohort in Zimbabwe. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol, 16 (4) DOI: 10.1186/s40360-015-0004-2.

6. Mendy M, Caboux E, Sylla BS, Dillner J, Chinquee J, Wild C., (2015). Infrastructure and facilities for human biobanking in low- and middle-income countries: a situation analysis. Pathobiology, 81(5-6):252-60. DOI: 10.1159/000362093.

7. Dhoro M, Ngara B, Kadzirange G, Nhachi C, Masimirembwa C., (2013). Genetic variants of drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporter (ABCB1) as possible biomarkers for adverse drug reactions in an HIV/AIDS cohort in Zimbabwe. Curr HIV Res, 11(6):481-90. DOI: 10.2174/1570162x113119990048.

8. Nemaura T, Dhoro M, Nhachi C, Kadzirange G, Chonzi P, Masimirembwa C., (2013). Evaluation of the Prevalence, Progression and Severity of Common Adverse Reactions (Lipodystrophy, CNS, Peripheral Neuropathy, and Hypersensitivity Reactions) Associated with Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment in Outpatients in Zimbabwe. Journal of AIDS & clinical research, 4(4). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-6113.1000203.

9. Dhoro M, Nhachi C, Masimirembwa C.,(2013). Technological and Cost Comparison of Cytochrome P450 2B6 (516G>T) Genotyping Methods in Routine Clinical Practice. African Journal of Biotechnology, 12(19):2706 -2710.

Patented Work:

Grants & Funding (current and Past projects):

2015-2016 fellow of the Global Health Equity Scholars (GHES) Fellowship Program (NIH/Fogarty)

Awards & Achievements:

2017 Selective Participant in the second International Summit in Human Genetics and Genomics (National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH)
ISBER 2018 Travel Awardee

Consultancy and advisory work (current and past):

Panel member for the Virtual-video Review of Applications Submitted in the 2020 Africa Rapid Grant Fund, Covid-19 Programme Call, 15 to 17 July 2020

Supervision information (MPhil, DPhil, etc.):

Amanda Madyadi, HIV-1 Genetic diversity and Natural polymorphisms of the integrase gene in integrase inhibitor naive patients in Zimbabwe (August 2022)
Perfect Mabika, Quality of Care for severe malaria in Rushinga District, (December 2020)
Shingirai Swiswa, Effects of dapoxetine on sodium levels in a mouse model (December 2018)

Professional membership, Committees, Boards:

UZCHS-CTRC Institutional Biosafety Committee Member (19 February 2018- present)
Higher Degrees committee member Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (11 March 2021 – present)
Member of the small group Annual Medical Research Day Committee (2017- present)
Member of the Faculty Promotions Committee (10 June 2021- present)