Prof Paolo Denti

Professor

Paolo Denti is a Professor of Pharmacometrics and the Head of the Pharmacometrics Group. His research focuses on the application of mathematical modelling and simulation (particularly population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) to optimise the treatment of infectious diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. He leads pharmacometric analyses within large international clinical trials, aiming to refine dosing strategies through a deeper understanding of drug exposure-response relationships.

A central theme of his work is improving treatment for vulnerable and often underrepresented populations—such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with TB/HIV co-infection—who are frequently excluded from drug development programs and underserved by current dosing guidelines. The team also investigates the impact of drug-drug interactions, pharmacogenetics, and disease physiology on drug behaviour.

Background in Academia

Paolo earned a Master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Padua in 2005, where he also completed a PhD in bioengineering in 2009. His doctoral research focused on nonlinear mixed-effects modelling of glucose-insulin metabolism under the supervision of Professors Alessandra Bertoldo, Claudio Cobelli, and Paolo Vicini (University of Washington).

Since joining UCT in 2009, he has played a key role in building the university’s pharmacometrics capacity. He co-leads Pharmacometrics Africa, a major training initiative supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners, which aims to develop modelling expertise across the continent.

Professional contributions

He serves on the scientific committee of the Population Approach Group Europe (PAGE) and is a member of the World Health Organization’s Technical Advisory Group on dosing of TB medicines for adults and children, as well as the Paediatric ARV Working Group (PAWG), which provides guidance on HIV treatment in children. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and serves on the editorial boards of CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology and the Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics. His contributions are helping shape more precise, equitable, and evidence-based approaches to global health treatment.

Useful links and further resources