Olatunji Kolawole

Olatunji Kolawole is a Global Exceptional Talent endorsed by the Royal Society, United Kingdom, and Professor of Medical Microbiology and Environmental Health at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He is an Associate Tutor at the Department of Public Health, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, UK. He is a Chartered Artificial Intelligence Practitioner and a Fellow, Royal Society of Biology, UK. His research interests are infectious diseases, virology, and environmental health, and published over 250 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and technical reports. He was a leading light in the eradication of wild poliovirus in Nigeria and the National Coordinator of Poliovirus Laboratory Containment since 2015. He is a Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. His current research focuses on viral genomics epidemiology for vaccine construction and design, wastewater surveillance for public health intervention, and treatment availability of potable water in developing countries. His research has improved hospital, community, and national surveillance awareness, and preparedness for potential outbreaks of pathogens of public health significance. He led the largest national serosurvey for SARS-CoV-2 in Nigeria in 2021 and the outcome was used by WHO as a UNITY study across the globe to enhance a better understanding of the disease transmission and advocacy in curtailing community transmission of SARSCoV-2. He is a Consultant to WHO with various national and international engagements. He is an Institute of Advanced Study International Fellow and Visiting Professor at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom.