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Since almost 20 years, Harald Hoffmann dedicates most of his professional life to strengthening laboratory capacities for better TB diagnostics.

Under his leadership, the WHO Supranational TB-Reference Laboratory (SRL) in Munich-Gauting evolved to one of the largest mycobacteriological diagnostic centers in Europe.

After studying medicine at the Friedrich-Wilhelm University Bonn and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, Harald Hoffmann started his medical career as pediatrician at the University Childrens Hospital Cologne, Germany, before he specialized in Clinical Microbiology at the Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

In 2004, he took over the leadership of the Institute of Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine (IML) in the South-West of Munich, that serves the WHO as Supranational Reference Laboratory.

Since ever, Harald Hoffmann was able to create a team of internationally recognized experts in the field of TB diagnostics and research, and to build nine highly active, WHO endorsed SRL-partnerships with the TB programs of Sudan, Belarus, Urkaine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal.

Caroline Corbett completed her BaH and BSc in Psychology and Biology from Queen’s University in 2011 before starting her PhD studies at the University of Calgary in 2013.

Working in the Production Animal Health Department in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, she focused on epidemiology and infectious disease, specifically on Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis transmission among dairy calves. Following 6 publications in peer reviewed journals based on her research and the successful completion of her PhD in 2018, Caroline Corbett worked for the Health Technology Assessment unit at the University in Calgary.

In 2019, Caroline Corbett began working as an Epidemiologist and Project Manager with IMLred, synthesizing data into comprehensive publications from projects implementing Next-Generation Sequencing for the detection of MDR-TB in Central Asia.

In 2022, she moved into the role of Head of Operations & Epidemiologist, overseeing a number of different ongoing projects within the company and aiding with project managers in study design, data analysis, writing, meeting key deadlines and deliverables, organization and financial management.

Caroline Corbett works closely with all members of the IMLred team to move projects towards completion and publication, while managing the work load capacities of the laboratory team.

Andrey Golubov obtained his Biology Diploma from Rostov State University in 2001 before embarking on his PhD studies at Ludwig Maximilians University, focusing on Yersinia Comparative Genomics.

Following the successful completion of his PhD in 2005 and the publication of three research papers in peer-reviewed journals, Andrey Golubov joined the David Axelrod Institute at the New York State Department of Health.

From 2007 to 2022, he served as a Senior Research Associate/Manager of the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Laboratory at the University of Lethbridge, Canada. Over the past 13 years, he has specialized in various Next Generation Sequencing applications, utilizing platforms such as Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies, and has completed numerous projects of varying sizes and complexities.

In February 2022, Andrey Golubov assumed the role of Head of Research and Development Unit and Project Manager at IMLred/SNRL Gauting, where he leads the implementation of NGS-based TB diagnostics techniques in partner countries in Central Asia.

In addition, he oversees multiple ongoing projects within the company, managing different aspects of study design, data analysis, writing, meeting key deadlines and deliverables, as well as organization and financial management.

Aigerim Zhaparova is a Quality Management System Officer at the IMLred responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with international standards.

She also conducts quality assessments and provides support in developing and maintaining quality management policies to partner countries in Central Asia and Caucasus.

Previously she served as a focal point and an In-Country Coordinator for the TB project on advancing the testing of drug-resistant tuberculosis through New Generation Sequencing technology application in Kyrgyzstan.

Aigerim Zhaparova’s professional background includes the USAID-funded projects on good governance, public administration strengthening and community development. She also led a grass-root project funded by the World Diabetes Foundation on providing support to patients and families of those affected by type 1 diabetes.

Aigerim Zhaparova holds a B.A. degree with Honors in International and Comparative Politics from the American University of Central Asia, and MPP from the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Dzmitry Sinitski obtained his Diploma in Biology from Belarusian State University in 2008 before starting his 3 year career in environmental NGO. After for one year he practiced in molecular and microbiology in microbiology lab. Then he had half year experience in the centre of Food and Biobased Research, Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

Dzmitry Sinitski finished his PhD studies at the University of Münster, Germany in 2016. The PhD work was devoted to strain specific interaction of Staphylococcus aureus with human endothelium.

After PhD he took 4 years of PostDoc position in Ludwig-Maximillian University, München in the Research Institute of Stroke and Dementia. His work focused on research in the field of human immunity.

In the end of 2020, Dzmitry Sinitski began working as a Project Manager with IMLred, working in international project for Elimination of tuberculosis in Central Asia (ETICA).

His current role is managing parts of the laboratory components of running project such as logistics, optimization of diagnostic networks and others . This work includes planning, data analysis, writing, meeting key deadlines and deliverables, organization and financial management. Dzmitry Sinitski works closely with other members of the IMLred team to move projects towards successful completion.

Evgeni Sahalchyk completed his Master of Science degree in Biology in specialization of Immunology (Medicine of Radiobiology) from International State Ecology University (Minsk, Belarus) in 1999.

During his work as clinical bacteriologist in the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Pulmonology and Tuberculosis in Minsk, Belarus, from 1999 until 2007, he received a practical experience in basic TB diagnostics and clinical microbiology.

Since 2008, he used to work as the Head of the National Reference Laboratory of TB of Belarus. Under his responsibility, a reform of the national TB laboratory network has been implemented, including restructuring of network, standardization of new lab procedures, introduction of monitoring and external quality assurance for culture laboratories. Furthermore, he was involved in several research projects on TB such as Minsk pilot TB drug resistance survey (2009-2010) and Belarus nationwide TB drug resistance survey (2010-2011).

After more than 11 years’ experience in most aspects of TB laboratory work, he applied to the Supranational Reference Laboratory of Gauting, as active partner in the WHO European region.