Professor Francisca Mutapi, is a Professor in Global Health Infection and Immunity, Deputy Director of the TIBA (Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa) Partnership and co-Director of the Global Health Academy at the University of Edinburgh. Professor Mutapi conducts and leads basic scientific research that has had an extraordinary impact on the policy, practice and implementation of neglected tropical disease (NTD) control, especially in Africa. She has contributed to shaping national and global NTD policies by working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and local governments in affected countries, impacting millions of lives. Her work on pediatric schistosomiasis made a major contribution to the WHO recommending screening and treatment of pre-school children in 2012. On a national scale, Professor Mutapi has been involved in the genesis, planning and implementation of Zimbabwe’s current helminth control programme started in 2012 targeting all school children. On a continental level, Professor Mutapi is co-leading the TIBA partnership as deputy director. The TIBA partnership, represented in nine African countries, is an Africa-led, wide-ranging, multi-disciplinary research programme that is empowering African scientists and policy makers to effectively and sustainably tackle NTDs, primarily schistosomiasis, malaria, trypanosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis, and improve preparedness for epidemics.