Professor Collen Masimirembwa is one of Africa’s leading experts in pharmacogenomics and precision medicine, with a career dedicated to advancing the application of genomics in healthcare and strengthening biomedical research capacity across the continent. After his scientific training, he spent a decade in the pharmaceutical industry in Europe before returning to Africa to help build local scientific leadership and infrastructure.
As an EDCTP Senior Fellow (2017), he contributed to strengthening research capacity and advancing translational biomedical science in Africa. He is the founder of the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST) in Zimbabwe, a centre of excellence focused on genomics-driven healthcare and pharmaceutical R&D capacity building.
His leadership in the field has been widely recognised, including the 2018 HUGO African Prize and the 2021 Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship, through which he is supporting the development of centres of excellence in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria. In 2025, he was named African Genius Award Laureate in recognition of his decades of pioneering work in genomics, pharmacogenomics and precision medicine.
Collen Masimirembwa is also a former member of the EDCTP Association Scientific Advisory Committee and currently represents Zimbabwe in the EDCTP Association General Assembly, contributing to the strategic direction of the partnership.
EDCTP-supported global health leaders
Professor Abdoulaye Djimdé is one of Africa’s leading experts on malaria genomics and antimalarial drug resistance.
Professor Alexander Debrah is a leading researcher in neglected tropical diseases in Ghana and across West Africa.
Professor Blandina Mmbaga is Director of the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI) in Tanzania and a leading figure in clinical research and capacity development in East Africa.
Dr Christian Happi is a molecular biologist and genomic scientist internationally recognised for his work on infectious disease surveillance.
Dr Cissy Kityo is a physician and HIV researcher who played a pioneering role in introducing and scaling up antiretroviral therapy in Uganda.
Professor Collen Masimirembwa is one of Africa’s leading experts in pharmacogenomics and precision medicine.
Dr Delese Mimi Darko is a leading figure in medicines regulation in Africa.
Prof. Eleni Aklillu is Professor of Global Health Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and a leading expert in pharmacovigilance, clinical pharmacology and regulatory science.
Professor Francine Ntoumi is Executive Director of the Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale and a leading figure in infectious disease research and capacity strengthening in Central Africa.
Professor Jean B. Nachega is a leading researcher in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, with a strong focus on infectious diseases and global health in Africa.
Dr Joseph Fokam is a virologist and senior health scientist, serving as Chief of Service at the Virology Laboratory of the CIRCB in Cameroon.
Professor Keertan Dheda is a globally recognised researcher in tuberculosis (TB).
Professor Margaret Gyapong is a leading public health researcher and a strong advocate for equity in health research.
Professor Marieke van der Zalm is a paediatric clinical researcher and one of the world’s leading experts on the long-term impact of tuberculosis (TB) on children’s lung health.
Dr Nicaise Ndembi is a renowned virologist and global health leader working at the intersection of science and policy.
Professor Pauline Byakika is a physician and infectious disease specialist whose research focuses on malaria treatment and the interactions between antimalarial and antiretroviral medicines.
Professor Peter Olupot-Olupot is one of Uganda’s leading clinical and infectious disease epidemiologists.
Professor Salim Abdool Karim is one of Africa’s most prominent infectious disease epidemiologists.
Dr Stellah Mpagama is a leading tuberculosis (TB) researcher whose work focuses on improving TB treatment and understanding how other conditions, such as diabetes, affect TB outcomes.
Professor Tulio de Oliveira is a bioinformatician and global leader in genomic surveillance of infectious diseases.