Lynsey Isherwood
Strategic Initiatives Lead, Healthcare Researcher & Business Development
Cape Town,GP
Summary
Lynsey is a Public Health Specialist and is currently the Strategic Initiatives Lead at the Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, with over 27 years of experience advancing diagnostic innovation, digital health, and systems strengthening across Africa and Indonesia. She bridges discovery science, implementation, and market access, translating policy into practice through programmes that connect laboratories, clinics, and data systems. As co-innovator of eLABS (now scaled to more than 3,500 facilities across Southern Africa), she has led the design and adoption of transformative digital platforms by Ministries of Health and the NHLS. Her leadership in national and regional policy, including Point-of-Care Testing Guidelines, COVID-19 Antigen Testing Frameworks, and HIV/TB Adherence Guidelines, reflects her commitment to sustainable, equitable, and data-driven health innovation.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Strategic Initiatives Lead
Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
09.2022 - Current
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.Jo
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Resolved problems, improved operations and provided exceptional service.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
Senior Technical Advisor and Head of Digital Health Innovations
Department of Molecular Medicine & Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand
10.2020 - 09.2022
- Streamlined laboratory protocols, improving efficiency and reducing turnaround times.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary researchers to initiate groundbreaking studies.
- Presented findings at international conferences, elevating institutional visibility and collaboration.
- Developed and implemented training programs, enhancing team capabilities and research outcomes.
- Enhanced system performance by conducting comprehensive technical analyses and providing strategic recommendations.
- Established strong relationships with clients, ensuring their satisfaction with delivered services and cultivating long-term partnerships.
- Streamlined processes by identifying redundancies and implementing necessary improvements.
- Conducted regular training sessions for team members on new technologies or tools, keeping them up-to-date on industry developments.
- Delivered exceptional results under tight time constraints while balancing competing priorities effectively.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality products within tight deadlines.
- Ensured clear communication between stakeholders by translating complex technical concepts into easily digestible terms.
Client Engagement Director
BroadReach
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Led client engagement initiatives to enhance customer satisfaction and retention.
- Developed strategic partnerships to align service offerings with client needs.
- Managed project timelines and deliverables to ensure consistent service quality.
- Analyzed client feedback to identify improvement opportunities and drive process enhancements.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration to deliver comprehensive solutions for clients.
- Mentored junior team members on effective client communication and relationship management.
- Implemented client engagement strategies that increased overall client satisfaction ratings.
- Oversaw contract negotiations to establish mutually beneficial terms with clients.
- Cultivated a results-driven culture within the team, promoting accountability for individual performance metrics as well as collective goals aligned with company objectives.
- Streamlined communication channels, resulting in improved collaboration between teams and clients.
- Fostered long-term partnerships with key accounts, driving revenue growth and market expansion.
- Developed tailored solutions for diverse clientele, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes.
- Optimized internal processes to increase efficiency within the Client Engagement department, ultimately contributing to higher levels of client satisfaction.
- Coached team members on best practices for building strong rapport with clients, enhancing overall engagement quality.
- Established trust-based relationships with key decision-makers across a wide range of industries, positioning our organization as their preferred partner for ongoing engagements.
- Mentored and developed junior team members, fostering an environment that encouraged professional growth and continuous improvement.
- Analyzed client feedback data to identify trends and inform future initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall customer experience.
- Enhanced client relationships by consistently delivering exceptional service and support.
- Identified new business opportunities through proactive networking and relationship-building activities.
- Built client relationships by responding to inquiries, identifying and assessing clients' needs, resolving problems, and following up with potential and existing clients.
- Performed duties and provided service in accordance with established operating procedures and company policies.
- Maintained client files with sales contracts, records of client interactions, client notes, and other information.
- Prepared sales presentations for clients showing success and credibility of products.
- Managed accounts to retain existing relationships and grow share of business.
- Achieved established KPI for company, regional team and individual performance through teamwork and focus on customers.
- Demonstrated products to show potential customers benefits and advantages and encourage purchases.
- Engaged in product training, demonstrations, consumer awareness, branding, and acquisition initiatives to raise awareness and revenues.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Developed compelling presentation decks to gain approval for ideas and communicate results.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with headquarters, regional and other teams nationally to maintain consistent message and experience.
Business Innovation Manager, iLEAD
Department of Molecular Medicine & Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Collaborated with stakeholders to align innovation initiatives with organizational goals and objectives.
- Managed project timelines and resources to ensure successful execution of innovation projects.
- Identified key market trends and leveraged them for strategic decision-making in product development.
- Enhanced collaboration between cross-functional teams for stronger ideation and faster product development.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary teams throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept generation to commercialization.
- Established effective partnerships with external vendors and organizations, bolstering company resources for innovation initiatives.
- Managed multiple high-priority projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget constraints.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
Senior Medical Scientist & National m-Health Program Manager
National Priority Programs Unit (NPP), National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Led research initiatives to advance understanding of infectious diseases and public health challenges.
- Developed and implemented laboratory protocols to ensure compliance with national health standards.
- Mentored junior scientists and staff, fostering a collaborative research environment.
- Analyzed complex data sets to derive insights for national health strategies and interventions.
- Presented findings at national conferences, enhancing visibility of research contributions.
- Streamlined laboratory workflows to improve efficiency and accuracy of diagnostic testing.
- Advised on strategic planning for national priority health interventions based on research outcomes.
- Authored articles for peer-reviewed journals, contributing valuable knowledge to the scientific community.
- Conducted detailed literature reviews on relevant topics as part of ongoing professional development initiatives aimed at staying current within the field.
- Established partnerships with key industry stakeholders to support collaborative research efforts and enhance resource sharing opportunities.
- Led development and implementation of health programs to improve patient outcomes and service delivery.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to assess program effectiveness and identify areas for enhancement.
- Established partnerships with community organizations to expand program reach and accessibility.
- Adapted programs as needed based on changing regulations or emerging trends in public health management practices.
Researcher and Project Manager
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), Wits Health Consortium, University of the Witwatersrand
01.2010 - 01.2014
Student
University of the Witwatersrand
01.2005 - 01.2009
- BSc. Degree majoring in Microbiology & Physiology.
Grant Writing Consultant
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
04.2005 - 06.2005
- Developed comprehensive research manuscripts and grant proposals to support HIV clinical studies.
- Collaborated with researchers to refine scientific communication and ensure clarity of findings.
- Edited and formatted documents to enhance readability and adherence to publication standards.
- Provided guidance on effective writing techniques to improve research dissemination.
Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
04.2004 - 01.2005
- Developed regulatory strategies for clinical trials to ensure compliance with national and international standards.
- Reviewed and submitted regulatory documents, streamlining approval processes for research protocols.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align project goals with regulatory requirements and timelines.
- Mentored junior staff on regulatory practices and documentation best practices to enhance team capabilities.
- Established and maintained relationships with regulatory agencies to facilitate effective communication and cooperation.
- Led audits and inspections, ensuring adherence to regulatory frameworks and maintaining quality standards.
Regulatory Manager & Researcher
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
01.1998 - 01.2004
- Developed regulatory strategies to ensure compliance with clinical trial guidelines.
- Managed submission processes for regulatory approvals on multiple research projects.
- Reviewed and analyzed regulatory documents for accuracy and completeness.
- Led cross-functional teams to address regulatory challenges and streamline processes.
Education
Master of Science - med
University of the Witwatersrand
01.2013
BSc - Microbiology & physiology
University of South Africa
01.2010
Skills
Strategic Leadership: Diagnostics, Health Innovations and Programmes
Stakeholder & Donor Engagement: Ministries of Health (Africa and Indonesia), PEPFAR, BMGF, CDC, World Bank, local and international academic institutions, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Regional Partners, and Philanthropic Partners
Thought Leadership: a recognised thought leader in diagnostics innovation, digital health, and laboratory systems strengthening, with over two decades of impact across Africa Through her contributions to global and national platforms, she continues to shape policy, strategy, and market access frameworks that drive equitable health innovation in Africa
Grant Writing & Fundraising: Public Health Initiatives
Presentations and Panel Member: Major scientific forums, stakeholders, donors, EXCO-level feedback
References
- Jaya, George, Professor, jaya.george@wits.ac.za, +27 82 325 7493, Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Director: Laboratories
- Johan, van Heerden, Dr., +27 xxx, C: +27 xxx | E: Professor Adriano Duse
- Adriano, Dusé, Professor, +27 xxx, C: +27 xxx | E: Professor Adriano Duse
- Francois, Venter, Professor, fventer@ezintsha.org, 083 399 1066, Ezintsha, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Executive Director
HONORS
Anglo American Corporation of South Africa, Gold Division Merit Award for outstanding performance whilst in service (1993), ‘Best Poster Presentation (trophy): City of Johannesburg convention (2012), Stakeholder Engagement Award: National Priority Programmes, National Health Laboratory Service (2017)
Affiliations
- ELABS South Africa Product Forum (2018- present)
- EXCO Member, Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub
- EXCO Member, eLABS International
ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS / CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
- Stewart-Isherwood L, Phatsoane M, Majam M et al. Evaluation of a Digital (Nasal) Self-Sampling Tool for COVID-19 Testing Among Healthcare Workers in Two South African Academic Hospitals [version 1]. VeriXiv 2025, 2:191 (https://doi.org/10.12688/verixiv.1163.1)
- Willem Venter; Jesse Coleman; Vincent Lau Chan; Zara Shubber; Mothepane Phatsoane; Marelize Gorgens; Lynsey Stewart-Isherwood; Sergio Carmona; Nicole Fraser. Cell phones and HIV linkage to care: Lessons from a randomised clinical trial. 2018 (manuscript in press #8376 “Cell phones and HIV linkage to care: Lessons from a randomised clinical trial” in press JMU (http://mhealth.jmir.org)
- Farley J.E., Seiger S., Naicker M., McKenzie-White J., Chaisson G., Elmi M., Stevens W., Stewart-Isherwood, L. Rapid diagnosis, linkage and treatment initiation of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa: the miLINC solution to improve access to care. Abstract number A-792-011-03954. 21th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016), Durban, South Africa, 18-22 July 2016.
- Farley JE, McKenzie-White J, Bollinger R, Hong H, Lowensen K, Chang LW, Stamper P, Berrie L, Olsen F, Isherwood L, Ndjeka N, Stevens W. Evaluation of miLINC to shorten time to treatment for rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2019 Sep 1;23(9):980-988. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.18.0503. PMID: 31615604.
- Isherwood, L. National Health Laboratory Service’s Use of Technology (oral presentation). Southern African HIV Clinicians Society Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa. 13-16 April 2016.
- Lynsey Stewart-Isherwood, Floyd Olsen, Portia Madumo, Lesley Scott, Leigh Berrie, Wendy Stevens. m-Health: Intervention to rapidly link Xpert MTB/RIF rifampicin resistant patients to treatment initiation in South Africa. 8th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2015), Vancouver, Canada. 19-22 July 2015
- Isherwood, L. Driving mHealth Programmes from the Laboratory. 7th South African AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa. 9-12 June 2015
- L. Stewart-Isherwood. m-Health projects with the National Health Laboratory Service (parallel symposium – part of an expert panel with FIND, Switzerland). 45th World Union World Conference on Lung Health, Barcelona, Spain. 28 October to 1 November 2014. http://www.finddiagnostics.org/export/sites/default/resource-centre/events/2014/pdf/FIND-Symposium-2014_flyer.pdf
- Lynsey Stewart-Isherwood, Kumbirai Chigudu , Fadzai Marange, Blessing Gorogodo , Nompahlelo Sofute , Blessing Kadira, Thabo Taleng, Crispin Moyo, Tanusha Kirsten, Wendy Stevens, for EQUIP Health. What’s missing for improved efficiency across the laboratory value chain? The Zambian e-LABS experience. 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health, The Netherlands: 24-27 October 2018.
- Kumbirai Chigudu, Lynsey Stewart-Isherwood, Fadzai Marange, Blessing Gorogodo, Kumbirai Chigudu, Nompahlelo Sofute , Blessing Kadira, Thabo Taleng, Crispin Moyo, Tanusha Kirsten, Wendy Stevens, for EQUIP Health. eLABS: Digital Health Intervention Strengthens the Clinical-Laboratory Interface for the HIV Viral Load Value Chain in the Luanshya District, Zambia. ASLM 2018/4th Biennial International Conference for Africa, Abuja, Nigeria: 10-13 December 2018.
Digital Health Innovations for Global Health
- With over twenty years of experience in TB and HIV research, Lynsey has, in recent years, leveraged her deep understanding of public health and scientific acumen to pioneer Digital Health Innovations and assist Wits DIH to fulfil its vision of increasing access to innovative diagnostics. Her hands-on experience in the public health sector in Africa and Indonesia has equipped her with a keen insight into the critical gaps between laboratories and clinics, and the potential for such disconnects to undermine healthcare systems designed for optimal patient care.
- Driven by a commitment to innovations for patient-focused solutions, Lynsey is the co-innovator of ‘eLABS’ – a groundbreaking digital health system now scaled to over 3,500 healthcare facilities and utilised by over 30,000 Healthcare Workers across South Africa and Zambia. This platform enhances the pre- and post-analytical processes for HIV Viral Load and TB testing & monitoring, and more recently, COVID-19, contributing significantly to the improvement of health systems.
New Business Development and Partnership Coalition
- Lynsey is a strategic leader in proposal development and partnership building, driving collaborations that link innovation and implementation across complex health ecosystems. Leveraging her skills in coalition-building and proposal design, and writing, she led a consortium of experts across three African countries to successfully pass the first round of a major funding application in September 2025, with the final outcome expected in February 2026.
- She has strong expertise in crafting high-quality proposals, including CDC NOFOs, Gates Foundation investment applications, and EDCTP calls. Most notably, Lynsey designed and authored the successful Gates Foundation proposal that secured a $2.6 million, two-year investment in October 2025, demonstrating her ability to mobilize substantial resources for impactful health initiatives.
- Lynsey excels at fostering meaningful relationships with Ministries of Health, industry leaders, academic collaborators, implementation partners, frontline health workers, and patient communities. Her approach is grounded in integrity, inclusivity, and diplomacy, enabling multi-sectoral alliances that advance sustainable health solutions.
- Her extensive experience spans Africa and Indonesia, with a focus on coalition-building and market access strategies that facilitate equitable access to diagnostics and health technologies.
National Policies, Strategies, and Guidelines
Lynsey has been instrumental in shaping South Africa’s diagnostic and digital health policy landscape, contributing to national Point-of-Care Testing Guidelines, COVID-19 Antigen Testing policy frameworks, and HIV/TB Adherence Guidelines. Through her leadership at the Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, she has translated policy into practice—developing digital systems, quality standards, and workforce training adopted by the National Department of Health and NHLS. Her work bridges regulatory readiness, market access, and health systems integration, advancing equitable diagnostic access across sub-Saharan Africa.
Conference and Thought Leadership
- Lynsey is an established thought leader in diagnostics innovation, digital health, and laboratory systems strengthening, with over two decades of experience shaping access strategies across Africa. She has been invited to share her expertise at numerous high-profile symposia and policy forums, bridging science, strategy, and market access.
- Africa Digital Health Summit 2023 (Johannesburg) – Panelist: “Digital & Diagnostic Integration for Scalable Health Systems”
- Highlighted South Africa’s lessons in digital transformation, interoperability, and public-private pathways for diagnostic scale-up across the continent.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Multi-Disease Diagnostics Roundtable 2022 – Technical Advisor & Speaker
- Invited to contribute Wits DIH’s perspective on multi-disease diagnostics integration, policy alignment, and access acceleration for LMICs.
- African Society for Laboratory Medicine Conference 2021 (Virtual) – Presenter: “Implementation of the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT Training Package: Field Experiences from South Africa”
- Showcased the EQUIP programme, executed with NHLS & NDoH, that trained thousands of healthcare workers in rapid antigen testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Union World Conference on Lung Health 2018 (The Hague) – Speaker: “What’s Missing to Improve Efficiency Across the Laboratory Value Chain? The Zambian eLABS Experience”
- Presented digital innovations linking sample transport, result return, and patient care through eLABS, developed under NHLS/Wits DIH leadership.
- Union World Conference on Lung Health 2016 (Liverpool) – Session Co-Chair & Coordinator: “Integrating Diagnostics, Data, and Training in Low-Resource Settings”
- Led technical discussions on infection control, biosafety, and the role of laboratory networks in advancing Universal Health Coverage.
- World Bank SmartLTC / miLINC Initiative 2015-2016 – Acknowledged Technical Lead
- Recognised for co-developing and piloting digital linkage-to-care systems integrating NHLS data with patient-facing applications—laying the groundwork for sustainable market-access models.
- WHX Cape Town 2025 – Laboratory Systems Panel: “From Scarcity to Sustainability: Rethinking Lab Systems Financing & Innovation in Africa”
- Panellist exploring financing mechanisms, regulatory harmonisation, and innovation adoption across African laboratory networks.
- SAAIDS 2025 – Plenary Speaker: “Reimagining Data: Driving Diagnostic Innovation for Resilient National HIV Responses”
- Delivered a forward-looking address linking legacy HIV tools with future pandemic preparedness, AI, and multi-omics integration.
- Rapporteur & Technical Contributor (NHLS Global Health Security Track 2016-17)
- Documented outcomes from national HIV/TB diagnostics scale-up sessions and contributed to the NHLS annual technical summary.
Public Relations and Marketing
- Media Training: TV, Radio, and Podcasts (Broadreach)
- Social Media Marketing lead for Wits DIH (website design and content, LinkedIn management)
CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL POLICIES, STRATEGIES, AND GUIDELINES
- 2017 – 2024
- Policy Implementation Advisor, National POC Testing Guidelines (NDoH / NHLS)
- Contributed to revision and rollout of the South African National POC Testing Guidelines, ensuring alignment with ISO 15189/22870 standards, laboratory governance, and digital data capture.
- Provided technical input on operational models, training, and field supervision for HIV, TB, and COVID-19 POC programmes.
- Technical Lead, COVID-19 Antigen Testing National Rollout (NHLS / NDoH / EQUIP)
- Supported design and national implementation of the NDoH Guide to Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2, integrating testing algorithms, data reporting, and training frameworks.
- Presented national lessons learned through ASLM LabCoP ECHO sessions and ASLM 2021 Conference, contributing to guideline updates and continental capacity-building.
- 2018 – 2023
- Digital Health Integration Specialist
- Developed eLABS, a digital sample tracking and results-return system adopted within NHLS TrakCare and linked to national systems (with HPRS, SynCH in progress).
- Provided technical recommendations informing policy on turnaround-time optimisation and digital interoperability.
- 2016 – 2020
- Contributor, HIV / TB Policy Evaluation & National Adherence Guidelines (NHLS / World Bank)
- Supported evidence generation and monitoring frameworks guiding differentiated service delivery and laboratory integration within primary healthcare.
- 2015 – 2018
- Quality Systems Alignment
- Worked with NHLS and provincial labs to align training and PT schemes with national QMS and ISO 15189 compliance targets.
- Ongoing
- Policy Advisor & Market Access Collaborator
- Advises national and regional stakeholders on diagnostic adoption, regulatory harmonisation, and sustainability frameworks under PEPFAR, CDC, BMGF, and Africa CDC initiatives.
Tuberculosis
Catherine Riou, Clive M. Gray, Masixole Lugongolo, Thabisile Gwala, Agano Kiravu, Pamela Deniso, Lynsey Stewart-Isherwood, Shaheed Vally Omar, Martin P. Grobusch, Gerrit Coetzee, Francesca Conradie, Nazir Ismail, Gilla Kaplan, Dorothy Fallows. A subset of circulating blood Mycobacteria-specific CD4 T cells can predict the time to Mycobacterium tuberculosis sputum culture conversion. PLoS One. Vol. 9 (7). July 2014 (e102178).
Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
- I was involved in research with drug resistant tuberculosis which extended knowledge of the disease in South Africa. I was further involved in the evaluation of the Genotype MTBDRsl assay in South Africa and in the development of a quality control programme for the Genotype MTBDR assay, both of which have been endorsed by WHO for tuberculosis drug resistance testing and require further implementation in South Africa.
- Gous, N; Isherwood, L; David, A; Stevens, W; Scott, L. A Pilot Evaluation of External Quality Assessment of GenoType MTBDR plus Versions 1 and 2 Using Dried Culture Spot Material. Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2015) 53(4).
- Patrick Beckert, Andrea Rachow, Elisabeth Sanchez-Padilla, Solomon Ali, Ellen Bruske, Abraham Alabi, Bertrand Lell, Khalide Azam, Catia Bilu, Saumu Pazzi, Daniel Mapamba, Lynsey Isherwood, Ian Sanne, Nyanda Elias Ntinginya, Gibson Kibiki, Matthew Bates, Sofia Viegas, Matthias Frank, Maryline Bonnet, Stefan Niemann, Michael Hölscher. Epidemiology of pyrazinamide resistant tuberculosis in Africa - a multicenter study in seven high incidence countries. Joint Annual Meeting of the German Society of Infectious Diseases (DGI) and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). 19-21 November 2015.
- Lynsey Isherwood, Francesca Conradie, Riana Louw, Adriano Duse, Natalie Beylis, Chrisna Veldsman, Pamela Diniso, Amanda Axcell. Evaluation of the GenoType MTBDRsl assay in a cohort of M/XDR TB patients in South Africa’. World Conference on Lung Health to be hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 13-17 November 2012
- Lynsey E. Isherwood, Nicole L. Kushner, Francesca Conradie, Dorothy Fallow, Riana Louw, Chrisna Veldsman, Amanda Axcell, Pamela Diniso, Yvonne Nkosi, and Adriano Duse. Sequencing of Drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Samples from a Cohort of Patients in a TB Hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. Poster presentation at CROI, Atlanta, USA. March 2012.
- Francesca Conradie; Riana Louw; Ian Sanne; Russel Mahaneyle; Thandi Mabiletsa; Mmudi Sefoka; Lynsey Isherwood; Xavier Padalinni ; Annelies Van Rie. Differences in clinical status of M/XDR patients who are co-infected with HIV infected vs. HIV non- infected at Sizwe: a nested prospective cohort study in a high HIV- prevalence setting in collaboration with Sizwe Hospital. Sizwe Hospital, Department of Health. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand. Right to Care. University of North Carolina 41st Union World Conference on Lung Health, Berlin, Germany, on 11-15 November 2010.
Sample transportation
Brooke E Nichols, Sarah J Girdwood, Thomas Crompton, Lynsey Stewart-Isherwood, Leigh Berrie, Dorman Chimhamhiwa, Crispin Moyo, John Kuehnle, Wendy Stevens, Sydney Rosen for EQUIP Health. Impact of a borderless sample transport network for scaling up viral load monitoring: results of a geospatial optimization model for Zambia. Journal of the International AIDS Society, (JIAS 2018). https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25206.
HIV and Complementary Medicine
- The use of selected alternative treatments in conjunction with standard therapy had potential in persons living with HIV. I investigated the place for such treatments in South Africa.
- L.E. Isherwood, W.D.F. Venter. Integrating Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) in a HIV Research Arena’. South African AIDS Conference. 3-6 August 2003, Durban, South Africa. (Poster Presentation – track 2, poster 12).
- Lynsey Isherwood. Clinical Research – setting research standards for therapists’ (oral presentation). South African Reflexology Congress, Johannesburg, South Africa, 22-24 March 2002. Ms Isherwood was invited to the International Reflexology Congress in Jamaica for the above presentation but could not attend due to lack of funding.
- Lynsey Isherwood. Therapeutic Reflexology and HIV patients (oral presentation). Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Johannesburg, South Africa, 21 June 2001.
CONFERENCES, PANELS & RAPPORTEUR WORK
- 2025
- Plenary Speaker, South African AIDS Conference (SAAIDS 2025): “Reimagining Data: Driving Diagnostic Innovation for Resilient National HIV Responses.”
- Panelist, WHX Cape Town 2025 – “From Scarcity to Sustainability: Rethinking Lab Systems Financing & Innovation in Africa.”
- 2023
- Panelist, Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS 2023, Johannesburg): “Digital & Diagnostics Integration for Scalable Health Systems.”
- 2022
- Technical Advisor / Speaker, MSF Roundtable on Multi-Disease Diagnostics & Access.
- Speaker, ASLM ECHO Session #52: “Efforts to Increase Access to COVID-19 Ag RDT: South Africa’s Experience.”
- 2021
- Presenter, ASLM Conference (Virtual): “Implementation of the SARS-CoV-2 Antigen RDT Training Package: Field Experiences from South Africa.”
- Contributor, 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health (Virtual): digital laboratory value chains and integration case studies.
- 2018
- Speaker, 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health (The Hague): “What’s Missing to Improve Efficiency Across the Laboratory Value Chain? The Zambian eLABS Experience.”
- 2016
- Session Co-Chair & Coordinator, 47th Union World Conference on Lung Health (Liverpool): workshops on infection control, diagnostics integration, and biosafety.
- Rapporteur, NHLS Global Health Security Track 2016-17: contributed to national diagnostics programme reporting.
- 2015–2016
- Acknowledged Technical Lead, World Bank SmartLTC / miLINC Project: linkage-to-care pilot integrating laboratory data into mobile health systems.
Running
Been part of running clubs for most of my adult life.
Timeline
Strategic Initiatives Lead
Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
09.2022 - Current
Senior Technical Advisor and Head of Digital Health Innovations
Department of Molecular Medicine & Haematology, University of the Witwatersrand
10.2020 - 09.2022
Client Engagement Director
BroadReach
01.2019 - 01.2020
Business Innovation Manager, iLEAD
Department of Molecular Medicine & Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
01.2018 - 01.2019
Senior Medical Scientist & National m-Health Program Manager
National Priority Programs Unit (NPP), National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
01.2014 - 01.2019
Researcher and Project Manager
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), Wits Health Consortium, University of the Witwatersrand
01.2010 - 01.2014
Grant Writing Consultant
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
04.2005 - 06.2005
Student
University of the Witwatersrand
01.2005 - 01.2009
Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
04.2004 - 01.2005
Regulatory Manager & Researcher
Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
01.1998 - 01.2004
BSc - Microbiology & physiology
University of South Africa
Master of Science - med
University of the Witwatersrand