Prof. Refiloe Masekela, MD, PhD is a distinguished lung health researcher with over 17 years of experience, currently serving as a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Professor (2022–2027). Her research focuses on paediatric asthma and lung physiological testing, making significant contributions to paediatric respiratory medicine and earning her international recognition.
Masekela holds several prominent leadership roles in global lung health. She is the Co-Chair of the Global Asthma Network and President of the Pan African Thoracic Society. Additionally, she serves as Co-Chair of the Federation of Respiratory Societies (FIRS) Lung Health Task Force Steering Committee. Her influence extends through memberships in leading organizations such as the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Scientific Committee, European Respiratory Society (ERS) Global Lung Initiative (GLI) Network Clinical Research Collaboration Committee, ERS Long Range Planning Committee for the Pediatrics Assembly, and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Ethics and Conflict of Interest Committee.
Nationally, Masekela is the President of the South African Thoracic Society, where she plays a crucial role in shaping respiratory healthcare policies and practices.
A prolific researcher, Masekela has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to eight book chapters on paediatric respiratory diseases. Her work is featured in esteemed publications, including the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Monograph Global Asthma Report, Manson’s Textbook of Tropical Infectious Diseases, and Coovadia’s Textbook of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Beyond her research, Masekela is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers. She has supervised and graduated 36 PhD and Master’s students, fostering research capacity in Africa. She co-directs the PATS-Methods in Epidemiological, Operational, and Clinical Research (MECOR) program, supported by the American Thoracic Society, and serves as a faculty member of the Virtual ATS International Pediatric Pulmonology Research Academy (VIPPRA) program. She also mentors and reviews for the USAID-funded SMART4TB Early-Stage Investigator program.
Furthering her commitment to improving child health outcomes across Africa, Masekela leads the African Paediatric Fellowship Training Program. This ELMA-funded initiative focuses on strengthening paediatric and paediatric subspecialist training across the continent.
Through her groundbreaking research, leadership, and mentorship, Professor Masekela continues to shape the future of paediatric respiratory health, both in Africa and globally.