Kadia Kallap

Kadia comes from Trinidad and Tobago and is currently completing her Master of Science in Medical Microbiology at the University of the West Indies. She is conducting her research on dengue infections in Trinidad under the advisement of Chief Dr. Patrick E. Akpaka. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Immunology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Miami. She is also a Registered Phlebotomy Technician, certified by American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Kadia’s interest in conducting research stems from her undergraduate experience assisting in a parasitology lab at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. This fostered her further interest in research in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. She chose to investigate dengue infections knowing its imminence in Trinidad and Tobago and aims to find the most efficient and cost-effective methods for laboratory diagnosis. She would like to expand her research to determine prevalence of dengue infections in Trinidad and Tobago.

She has noted areas for improvement in the Health System in Trinidad and Tobago while conducting research within the health sector. As an incoming Queen Elizabeth Scholar, she would like to use the data resources and skills from the McMaster Health Forum to learn more about health systems strengthening, in an attempt to raise issues of prevention and infectious disease control as well as antibiotic resistance in Trinidad and Tobago.