Charles Rotimi

Charles Rotimi in NHGRI's Oral History Collection

Charles Rotimi
Nationality	Nigerian-American
Alma mater	University of Benin (Nigeria), Howard University
Known for	Human genetic diversity, Health disparities
Scientific career
Fields	Genetics, Epidemiology
Institutions	National Institutes of Health

Charles Rotimi is a Nigerian-American geneticist and epidemiologist known for his research on human genetic diversity and health disparities. He is a senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the founding director of the Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health (CRGGH).

Early Life and Education

Charles Rotimi was born in Nigeria. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Benin (Nigeria), where he earned a degree in biochemistry. He later moved to the United States to pursue further education, obtaining a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from Howard University.

Career

Rotimi's career has been marked by significant contributions to the understanding of genetic diversity among African populations and the implications for health disparities. He has held various academic and research positions, including roles at Howard University and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).

At the National Institutes of Health, Rotimi has focused on integrating genomics into public health research. He is particularly interested in how genetic variations contribute to differences in disease prevalence and outcomes among different populations.

Research Contributions

Rotimi's research has provided valuable insights into the genetic basis of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. His work has highlighted the importance of including diverse populations in genetic studies to ensure that findings are applicable to all human groups.

He has been a key figure in several large-scale genomic projects, including the Africa America Diabetes Mellitus (AADM) Study and the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Initiative. These projects aim to build research capacity in Africa and to understand the genetic and environmental factors influencing health in African populations.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Rotimi has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to genetics and public health. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and has been recognized by various organizations for his efforts to address health disparities.

Personal Life

Charles Rotimi resides in the United States and continues to be actively involved in research and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

See Also

• Genomics
• Health disparities
• Human genetic diversity
• National Institutes of Health
• Epidemiology