Theonestina Byakuzana is a Research Officer at the Ifakara Health Institute, where she has been contributing to public health initiatives since 2017. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Dar es Salaam, she has over six years of experience providing care for HIV and TB patients. 

In her role, Theonestina is responsible for conducting advanced laboratory tests on blood samples, biological fluids, and other materials as specified such as Full blood picture, chemistry, CD4, viral load, resistance testing, Crag screening, and culture. She also ensures proper maintenance and quality control of laboratory equipment, implements quality control measures and ensures the quality assurance of laboratory tests. She also prepares and maintains a checklist for lab consumables and reagents to ensure availability. Her expertise extends to data management and biobanking, contributing to numerous clinical and research studies, such as the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO).

Before joining Ifakara Health Institute as a full-time staff, Theonestina volunteered at the institute, where she gained valuable experience in mosquito dissection, DNA extraction, and molecular techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ELISA for identifying malaria vectors. This early exposure to laboratory work honed her technical skills and deepened her commitment to tackling public health challenges.

Theonestina’s professional growth is supported by specialized training in areas such as industrial First Aid,  Abbott m2000 System Application, Occupational Safety and Health Authority, and implementation and internal auditors for medical laboratories (ISO 15189:2012).

Theonestina has also made numerous research contributions including investigating Vibrio cholera in street-vendor beverages, studying renal impairment in HIV patients, and exploring decentralized viral load testing to improve HIV care in rural Tanzania and more.