Dr Shadia Nakalema
Physician and Research Scientist
Institution
Infectious Diseases Institute, Uganda
Bio
Dr. Shadia Nakalema is a Physician and Research Scientist at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Mulago, and a PhD scholar at the University of Liverpool. Her research focuses on improving sexual and reproductive health for women living with HIV, with an emphasis on contraceptive safety and access alongside antiretroviral therapy (ART). She is part of the DOLPHIN-3 consortium, studying long-acting ART among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Dr. Nakalema has participated in studies examining drug-drug interactions between ART and contraceptive implants, and has been involved in the recruitment and follow-up of participants from special populations, including pregnant and breastfeeding women. She is also an active member of the Contraceptive Implant Research Consortium for Low-income Countries, and integrates mixed-methods research, stakeholder engagement, and policy analysis into her work. Her PhD explores family planning and HIV care integration as programs adopt long-acting therapies, aiming to inform person-centered, policy-driven care in resource-limited settings.
Selected Publications
Nakalema S, Chappell CA, Pham M, Byakika-Kibwika P, Kaboggoza J, Walimbwa SI, Musaazi J, Nakijoba R, Mbabazi L, Kyohairwe I, Nassiwa S. Pharmacokinetics of levonorgestrel and etonogestrel contraceptive implants over 48 weeks with rilpivirine-or darunavir-based antiretroviral therapy.Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2022 Sep 5.
Scarsi, K.K., Darin, K.M., Nakalema, S., Back, D.J., Byakika-Kibwika, P., Else, L.J., Dilly Penchala,S., Buzibye, A., Cohn, S.E., Merry, C. and Lamorde, M., 2015. Unintended pregnancies observed with combined use of the levonorgestrel contraceptive implant and efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy: a three-arm pharmacokinetic evaluation over 48 weeks. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(6), pp.675-682.
Chappell, C.A., Lamorde, M., Nakalema, S., Chen, B.A., Mackline, H., Riddler, S.A., Cohn, S.E., Darin, K.M., Achilles, S.L. and Scarsi, K.K., 2017. Efavirenz decreases etonogestrel exposure: A pharmacokinetic evaluation of implantable contraception with antiretroviral therapy. Aids, 31(14), pp.1965-1972.
Lamorde M, Wang X, Neary M, Bisdomini E, Nakalema S, Byakika-Kibwika P, Mukonzo JK, Khan W, Owen A, McClure M, Boffito M. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenomics of efavirenz 400mg once-daily during pregnancy and postpartum. In9th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2017) 2017 Jul 1.
Neary M, Chappell CA, Scarsi KK, Nakalema S, Matovu J, Achilles SL, Chen BA, Siccardi M, Owen A, Lamorde M. Effect of patient genetics on etonogestrel pharmacokinetics when combined with efavirenz or nevirapine ART. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2019 Oct 1;74(10):3003-10.