Jessica Ellen Ringshaw

Jessica Ringshaw is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Research Fellow from South Africa. She completed her PhD in Paediatric Neuroscience at the University of Cape Town (UCT; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health) and is now based at Kings College London (KCL; Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences). As an awardee of a Wellcome Trust International Training Fellowship, Jessica’s work has spanned continents, falling under the umbrella of multi-site network (UNITY; Ultra Low-Field Neuroimaging In the Young) of specialist neuroimaging centers and clinical partners funded by the Gates Foundation. Jessica has a bridging role aimed at fostering cross-site team collaboration, particularly between UCT and KCL, and is integrally involved in the training and capacity development portfolio for paediatric neuroimaging across UNITY sites in Africa and South Asia. Jessica’s research is focused on using MRI to understand the impact of antenatal maternal anaemia and iron deficiency on child brain structure and development in early life. This includes answering important questions of clinical relevance using traditional high-field (3T) MRI, as well as cross-validation work assessing a novel ultra-low-field (64mT) MRI system’s comparative feasibility in under-resourced settings. Jessica’s goal is to contribute towards a local and international effort to meaningfully address relevant global health priorities with implications for clinical practice, public engagement, and public policy. With the support of a Wellcome Trust Research Enrichment Grant, Jessica has led multiple public engagement projects aimed at communicating research findings, fostering reciprocal dialogue between stakeholders on all levels, and identifying meaningful solutions for community-led change.