Sarah Higgins

Sarah Higgins is a Master of Science Candidate at Sandra A. Rotman Laboratories, McLaughlin Rotman Centre for Global Health within the Translational Research Pillar.

Sarah's research interests focus on the identification and validation of key host determinants that contribute to adverse outcomes of Plasmodium falciparum infection, with a specific interest in determining which key factors mediate susceptibility to CM. Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe neurological complication of P. falciparum infection and a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. To date, the underlying pathogenesis of CM is poorly understood and diagnosis and treatment of CM remains a challenge. Identification of key factors will enable improved global health strategies through (i) the development of early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, which facilitate clinical management and allow for more efficient allocation of health resources, (ii) identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention and (iii) elucidation and characterization of CM pathogenesis.