Dawit Wolday

Associate Professor, Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences

Dr. Dawit Wolday is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University. He received his M.D. and M.Sc. from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and completed his Ph.D. at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Dr. Wolday’s translational research program focuses on the complex interrelationships between hosts and pathogens, integrating mechanistic studies of immune activation driven by viral infections with genomic‑based surveillance of priority pathogens. His work bridges fundamental immunology, clinical investigation, and global health implementation science.

A central pillar of his research is the development and evaluation of innovative point‑of‑care diagnostic platforms tailored for infectious diseases, particularly in resource‑limited settings. Dr. Wolday aims to accelerate early detection, improve outbreak response, and strengthen diagnostic capacity in underserved regions. Through multinational collaborations, he advances equitable, scalable solutions that enhance clinical decision‑making and public health preparedness across diverse global contexts.