Malawian TWAS Young Affiliate Halima Sumayya Twabi is among the recipients of the 2025 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation awardees in inclusive health. She is honored for her research and contribution to advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.

Twabi, a biostatistician and associate professor of statistics with the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Malawi, addresses health disparities in vulnerable populations through advanced statistical methodologies and data-driven approaches. She focuses her investigations on women and children, particularly those affected by HIV infection, in socio-economically disadvantaged communities.

"This award has validated my research contributions in health research, increasing my recognition within the global scientific community," she said. "It has disclosed collaboration opportunities that strengthened my role in inspiring and mentoring young women in STEM."

Twabi applies statistical methods to provide better insight into the consequences of maternal HIV on pregnancy development and the future child. For her work, she previously received the 2020 L'Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Young Talents Sub-Saharan Award, which supports young women scientists in Africa. Her research also examines the impact of unhealthy food on childhood overweight, a growing condition among sub-Saharan African young children.

Twabi co-founded the Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics network (Gi-STEAM) in Malawi and collaborates on the project 'Strengthening Women's Research Network and Capacity to Address Women's Health in Sub-Saharan Africa', funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The other four co-recipients of the 2025 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World are Sarmila Tandukar of Nepal, Alejandra Paniagua-Avila of Guatemala, Manal Badrasawi of Palestine, and Reem Obaydo of Syria.

Environmental engineer Sarmila Tandukar of Nepal attended the 2021 online TWAS-AAAS course on science diplomacy as a young scientist in engineering sciences, paired with Hasana Shrestha, also of Nepal.

Panagua-Avila of Guatemala, the president and co-founder of the Association for Mental Health, a recently established nonprofit that promotes the recovery of people living with serious mental illnesses in Guatemala, is an alumna of the IAP Young Physician Leaders programme.

Cristina Serra