Award-winning pharmaco-geneticist advances drug discovery and development for Africans
- Wits University
Professor Collen Masimirembwa of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience receives Precision Medicine World Conference Pioneer Award (PMWC) 2025.
Masimirembwa, a Distinguished Professor at Wits University's Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB), received the award at a ceremony in California, USA, on 7 February.
The PMWC Pioneer Award recognises Masimirembwa’s groundbreaking work in pharmacogenomics, shedding light on how genetic differences influence drug responses across diverse populations.
His contributions have advanced personalised medicine, paving the way for safer, more effective treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles.
Meanwhile, Masimirembwa was named one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine for his foundational work in genomic medicine on the continent.
Pharmacogenomics investigates how a person’s genetic makeup may affect how their body processes medications. The field involves genetic testing to look for changes in specific genes.
Masimirembwa says, “I feel delighted to have been recognised by the PMWC and as a leader in precision medicine. It has long been my goal and duty to bridge the medical research gap between Africa and the rest of the world. There is enormous genetic diversity on the African continent, and tailored drug discovery and development for the population is important if we want to improve lives. Indeed, African populations exhibit 200 times more genetic variability than Europeans."
Masimirembwa pioneered pharmacogenetic research in Africa in the early 1990s, uncovering the unique genetic makeup of African populations and its critical clinical implications. Over the past 30 years, his research has deepened the understanding of African genetic diversity, leading to the development of advanced genetic analysis tools and treatment algorithms designed to improve patient outcomes.
His contributions to the field are extensive—he has published over 130 research papers, identified novel genetic variants specific to African populations, and developed GenoPharm, the first registered genetic test for clinical use. He is also the founding President and Chief Scientific Officer of the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST) in Zimbabwe, and a Gates Foundation Calestous Science Leadership Fellow.
In Masimirembwa’s keynote address at the PMWC, titled “Genomic Diversity in Africa: Pharmacogenetics and Clinical Implications,” he noted the enormous unmet need for precision medicine in Africa. There are more variants in African ancestry per genome compared to other populations.
“We need better ways to predict how novel genetic variants affect health and to develop clinical algorithms for personalised drug and dose selection.”
Masimirembwa believes AI and machine learning can help overcome these challenges, making precision medicine more effective.
Lifesaving drugs for HIV, Malaria and TB can be tailored for Africans
Masimirembwa’s research has uncovered a critical issue with the HIV drug Efavirenz (EFV), revealing that African patients are more likely to experience severe side effects—including rashes, depression, and even suicidal tendencies—when taking the standard 600mg dose.
His findings also highlight a genetic variant common in many African populations of Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa, which was associated with reduced capacity to eliminate EFV from the body, resulting in high and toxic exposure levels. In response, lower doses were introduced, leading to better adherence, and improved viral control. These findings led to the World Health Organization recommending the adoption of dolutegravir for HIV treatment.
Building on this work, Masimirembwa is now investigating how African populations respond to other critical medications, including the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen and treatments for tuberculosis and malaria.
The way forward for African precision medicine
Masimirembwa notes that the future is bright for African-based precision medicine, and more pharmacogenomic data and models for applications in novel drugs and diagnostics is possible.
“The more information we have, the greater the likelihood of developing guidelines to ensure safe and efficacious use of medicine for people of African ancestry.”
Professor Michèle Ramsay, Director of the SBIMB, says, “Collen’s work and his prestigious PMWC Pioneer Award highlight the shift from one-treatment-fits-all to precision medicine where treatments can be optimised, particularly in diverse populations.”
Named after Nobel Laureate and Wits University graduate, Sydney Brenner, the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) is a burgeoning multi-disciplinary research institute dedicated to investigating the molecular and genomic aetiology of diseases among African populations.