Prof. Faruk Sarkinfada

Faruk Sarkinfada (PhD, AMLSCN,  FRSTM & H, FWAPCMLS) is a Professor of Medical Microbiology, a Medical Laboratory Scientist and a Quality Assurance Specialist. Currently, he is the founding Vice Chancellor, Tazkiyah University Kaduna, Nigeria.

He brings over 30 years of global expertise in teaching, research, community service and networks across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. His works, intersecting science, service, and society to save lives, focus on laboratory systems strengthening, quality assurance modeling, and infectious disease diagnostics and control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

A recognized authority on laboratory and healthcare systems, Prof Sarkinfada has shaped national and international health policy. He co-developed Nigeria’s National Medical Laboratory Strategic Plan and served as a key consultant and leader for major global health initiatives, including:

·         Kano Independent Research Center (KIRC): Consultant technical services for the design and establishment of KIRC (2009-2025)

·         Global Fund Tuberculosis Grant to Nigeria (Round 5 Phase II) (2009–2012): Strengthened TB laboratory networks and diagnostics in Nigeria 

·         UK-Aid SuNMaP Project: National Malaria Diagnostic Consultant for capacity building  (2012-2014)

·         £94 Million Fleming Fund Grant: Led Nigeria’s AMR/AMU surveillance program under the One Health approach across human, animal, and environmental health  (2019-2020).

Professional Recognition

Associate, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (1993)

Fellow, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (FRSTM&H), UK (2007)

Fellow, West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (FWAPCMLS) (2020)

Fellow, Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program, USA (2008)

Leadership & Academia

Prof Sarkinfada has held senior academic and administrative roles including: Deputy Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences; Head, Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology; Postgraduate Coordinator, Bayero University Kano; Head of Research & Entrepreneurship, LIWA University, Abu Dhabi; and Dean, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Skyline University Nigeria.

An accomplished scholar and trainer, he has published extensively in high-impact journals, serves as peer reviewer for Malaria Journal, Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, and others, and was Editor-in-Chief, Annals of Medical Laboratory Scientist. He has designed postgraduate MSc/PhD programs and professional certificate courses in infectious disease diagnostics, epidemiology, medical mycology, and vector control.

Current Research

Prof. Sarkinfada's areas of research focuses on biomarkers, molecular diagnostics, and AI tools for infectious disease diagnosis, plus molecular and community-based studies on antimicrobial resistance incidence, determinants and outcomes.

As a member of CTID^R External Advisory Board, Prof. Sarkinfada provides independent advice to strengthen the centre’s scientific direction, governance, partnerships, research quality, and capacity development.