Ashika Singh-Moodley

I am a motivated, dedicated individual possessing good problem-solving and decision-making skills, an organized and methodical approach, excellent attention to detail and the ability to adapt and prioritise to meet strict deadlines. I am a good communicator and work well with others to complete goals. I hold a PhD in medical science and am a National Research Foundation (NRF) - rated researcher. I have extensive experience in laboratory development and management; quality assurance; project management including the drawing-up and managing of timelines and budgets; data analysis, presentation of data, writing up and review of reports, manuscripts, grant applications and standard operating procedures; mentoring, teaching, training, supervising and managing staff and students. In addition to my experience as a scientist and researcher, I have gained considerable experience in the pharmaceutical industry particularly in medical affairs including the ability to build networks and professional relationships, gather and address impactful insights through interactions with medical experts, medical information responses, identify, design and implement strategy and evidence generation studies as well as medical governance and processes.

Medical Lead/Advisor, Novartis
1 January 2024 – Current, Responsible for Medical Governance and Processes as well as pipeline molecules in various therapeutic areas.

Medical Science Liaison - Novartis
1 September 2021 – 31 December 2023, This was a national role with experience in multiple therapeutic areas: oncology, gene therapy, cardiovascular diseases.

Principal Medical Scientist - ational Priority Programme (NPP), Research and Development, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). Feb 2020 - Aug 2021, NThis was a full time position at the National Priority Programme, NHLS. Apart from the main role, other responsibilities included a joint researcher at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand.

Senior Medical Scientist - National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). Centre for Healthcare-associated infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM), Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory and Culture Collection (AMRL-CC). 14 June 2010 – 31 March 2015 and 1 July 2015 - 31 January 2020. This was a full time position at the Center for Healthcare-associated infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycology, NICD, NHLS. Apart from the main role, other responsibilities included a joint researcher at the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand.

Medical Scientific Liaison - Boehringer Ingelheim. Apr 2015 - Apr 2015.

Postgraduate Degrees

• PhD, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (2011). Title: Coreceptor utilization and primary cell tropism by HIV-1 subtype C strains: 1) Coreceptor usage in macrophages and primary lymphocytes by dualtropic HIC-1 subtype C strains, 2) HIV-1 tropism in subtype C-infected patients from KwaZulu-Natal.
• MMedSc (Molecular Biology), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (2006). Title: Cationic liposome-mediated transfection with/without as targeting component.
• BMedSc (Honours) (Medical Microbiology), University of Natal, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (2003).

Undergraduate Degree

• BSc (Bio-Medical Science), University of Natal (2002).