Jo-Ann Passmore PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town and Principle Medical Scientist with the National Health Laboratory Services. Jo-Ann co-developed the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT) for HIV prevention, with Dr Lindi Masson at UCT, which is a social innovation aimed as a cheap, point-of-care lateral flow device to diagnose women with sexually transmitted infections or bacterial vaginosis and link them to treatment (www.GIFT.org.za; www.GIFT-Africa.org.za). She heads the Mucosal Infections Group (MIG) in the Division of Medical Virology (www.passmore-lab.org.za). Her research focuses on the role of genital tract inflammation and cellular activation on HIV risk in women, associated most commonly with undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis. In addition to the GIFT device, Jo-Ann’s research group has been harnessing the vaginal microbiome from healthy women to improve reproductive health in Africa through development of live biotherapeutic products for BV treatment. She has published over 110 papers on mucosal immune responses and inflammation associated with HIV risk and progression and holds one patent.
