Prof. Collen Masimirembwa Crowned 2025 African Genius Award Laureate.

16 September 2025

In a landmark moment for Africa’s biomedical community, Prof. Collen Masimirembwa has been named the 2025 African Genius Award Laureate, recognizing three decades of pioneering work in genomics, pharmacogenomics, and precision medicine. The accolade underscores Africa’s rising leadership in life-changing health innovation and marks a milestone for the continent’s scientific leadership. Prof Masimirembwa, a biochemical pharmacologist, serves as the founding President/CEO of the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AIBST) and is a Distinguished Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand. His research centers on how genetic variation shapes drug response, illuminating why therapies behave differently across African populations and demonstrating how genomic insights can tailor treatments to individual patient needs. This population-specific focus has driven meaningful improvements in safety, efficacy, and accessibility of medicines across Africa.

The laureateship reflects Masimirembwa’s contributions across several pillars. He has advanced genomics-driven precision medicine by mapping genetic diversity across African populations to inform therapeutic choices. In pharmacogenomics, he has developed dosing strategies for HIV therapies and cancer drugs to reduce adverse reactions and boost effectiveness. His work translates laboratory discoveries into real-world healthcare delivery, bridging bench science with bedside care, particularly in resource-limited settings. Beyond research, he has founded and led institutions that cultivate the next generation of African scientists and clinicians, reinforcing Africa’s leadership in genomic medicine.

Several breakthroughs define his impact. He demonstrated that African genetic diversity has a significant influence on drug metabolism, enabling the development of safer and more effective treatments through population-tailored dosing. Among his notable discoveries is the characterization of the CYP2D6*17 variant, which affects the metabolism of a broad range of medications and informs dosing decisions for drugs used in HIV therapy and oncology. By translating pharmacogenomic data into practical dosing algorithms, his work has informed clinical guidelines and policies, ultimately improving patient outcomes across the continent. The laureateship also highlights global recognition that remains locally relevant, with Masimirembwa receiving prestigious awards such as the HUGO Award and the PMWC Pioneer Award, underscoring Africa’s leadership in genomic medicine.

The award ceremony carries symbolic significance as well. Dr. Sifiso Falala, founder of the African Genius Awards, noted that having Africa’s own world-class leader in genomic medicine on the stage demonstrates the continent’s readiness to develop life-transforming health products and services in precision medicine. Masimirembwa’s selection also marks a historic milestone as the first Zimbabwean to receive the AGA Laureate title, highlighting Zimbabwe’s growing footprint in Africa’s scientific renaissance. Past laureates include influential figures such as Bantu Stephen Biko, Aliko Dangote, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Ali Mazrui, Denis Mukwege, Tshilidzi Marwala, Oluyinka Olutopo Olutoye, Mashudu Tshifularo, and Theresa Kachindamoto, illustrating the diverse leadership celebrated by the award.

The implications for Africa’s health and innovation ecosystems are far-reaching. Masimirembwa’s work embodies a shift toward precision medicine tailored to Africa’s unique genetic landscape, enabling safer and more effective treatments. His leadership strengthens capacity-building through mentorship and institutions that nurture scientists, clinicians, and translational researchers across the continent. The laureateship also underscores the need for cross-border collaboration, ethical governance, and policies that accelerate the translation of research into patient care, highlighting how Africa can shape global health policy while addressing local health priorities.

Looking ahead, the 2025 laureateship signals accelerating momentum for Africa’s genomic medicine agenda. The African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AIBST) remains committed to supporting leaders like Prof. Masimirembwa by fostering capacity, enabling translational research, and promoting ethical, patient-centered innovation. The institute will continue to build partnerships across academia, industry, and government to scale genomic medicine solutions that deliver tangible health benefits. Masimirembwa’s legacy positions the continent at the forefront of global precision medicine, encouraging a stronger homegrown leadership pipeline and a policy environment that accelerates bench-to-bedside translation.

Prof. Collen Masimirembwa’s biography reflects a career dedicated to Africa’s genomic frontier. His focus areas—genomics, pharmacogenomics, precision medicine, forensic DNA, and clinical trials—showcase a broad impact across research, clinical practice, and policy. His work on population-specific pharmacogenomics and dosing strategies has advanced Africa’s leadership in genomic medicine and helped inform global and local health policies. The 2025 laureateship stands as a testament to Africa’s capacity to produce world-class scientific leadership and to translate research into real-world health improvements that save lives.