Basetsana Katlo Phakedi

Basetsana Katlo Phakedi is a laboratory scientist specialising in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HBV–HIV co-infection research. She is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Medical Sciences at the University of Botswana, with a strong focus on advancing knowledge in viral genomics, drug resistance mutations, and infectious disease epidemiology in Botswana.

She has developed technical expertise in serological diagnostics (ELISA), molecular assays such as real-time PCR, and whole-genome sequencing using next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms including Illumina and GridION. Her research has contributed to a deeper understanding of HBV prevalence, viral diversity, and lymphotropism in HIV-infected populations, with findings presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Her primary interests include HBV viral persistence, drug resistance, and immune response mechanisms, with the long-term goal of informing public health strategies and therapeutic interventions. Through her laboratory expertise and growing involvement in international collaborations, she aims to contribute to advancing HBV and HIV research, particularly in African populations.