Collen Masimirembwa

Collen Masimirembwa is a renowned biomedical scientist and geneticist from Zimbabwe. He is best known for his significant contributions to the field of pharmacogenomics, a discipline that studies how genes affect a person's response to drugs.

Early Life and Education

Masimirembwa was born and raised in Zimbabwe. He pursued his undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Zimbabwe. He then moved to Sweden for his postgraduate studies, where he earned his PhD in Molecular Genetics from the Karolinska Institute.

Career

After completing his PhD, Masimirembwa returned to Zimbabwe and established the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST), where he currently serves as the President and Chief Scientific Officer. The institute focuses on the research and development of new drugs and diagnostics for diseases prevalent in Africa.

In his research, Masimirembwa has made significant strides in the field of pharmacogenomics. He has worked extensively on the genetic variability in drug metabolism, with a particular focus on drugs used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. His work has contributed to a better understanding of how genetic factors influence the efficacy and safety of these drugs in different populations.

Recognition

Masimirembwa's work has been recognized internationally. He is a member of the Human Variome Project, an international initiative aimed at collecting and curating all information on genetic variation affecting human health. He also serves on the advisory board of the Pharmacogenomics for Every Nation Initiative (PGENI), a global effort to help developing countries integrate pharmacogenomics into their healthcare systems.

See Also

• Pharmacogenomics
• African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology
• Human Variome Project
• Pharmacogenomics for Every Nation Initiative