Dr Mwifadhi Mrisho is a leading Principal Research Scientist at the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He holds a BA in Economics and an MA in Demography from the University of Dar es Salaam, a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Basel, and an MSc in Health Research Ethics from the University of Kwazulu Natal.

Since joining IHI in 2001, Mrisho has pioneered research in newborn and infant mortality, leading to significant reductions in mortality rates across Tanzania. His PhD thesis entitled, “Neonatal survival in rural Tanzania: Home deliveries, neonatal mortality and subsequent help and health seeking behaviour for the newborn by mothers in rural Tanzania,” made a very important contribution to opening up of the maternal and newborn portfolio at IHI.

Mrisho also serves as an Assistant Lecturer at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, where he teaches and supervises students. He is the Head of Department and Secretary of the IHI Institutional Review Board (ETHICS).

His extensive research includes notable projects like "Improving Newborn Survival in Southern Tanzania" and "Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Infants," funded by major organizations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.