Collen Masimirembwa
Collen Masimirembwa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 (age 56–57) |
| Nationality | Zimbabwean |
| Citizenship | Zimbabwe |
| Occupation(s) | President and chief scientific officer of the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology |
| Known for | Pharmacogenetics, pharmacology, and drug discovery |
| Awards | Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences, HUGO Africa Award |
Collen Masimirembwa (born 1967) is a biomedical pharmacologist from Zimbabwe who holds the position of distinguished professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Cape Town, and president and chief scientific officer at the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST). His research in Africa has contributed to the field of pharmacogenetics, particularly in understanding the genetic diversity and drug response of African populations. He is associated with the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences (ZAS), and was honoured with the HUGO Africa Award in 2018.
Early life and education[edit]
Masimirembwa was born in 1967 in Zimbabwe[1] and received his BSc (Hons) and DPhil degrees in biochemistry from the University of Zimbabwe in 1993.[2] He continued his studies at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where he earned his PhD in medical biochemistry and biophysics. His doctoral research was centered on the molecular mechanisms of drug metabolism and toxicity.[3][4]
Career and research[edit]
After obtaining his PhD, Masimirembwa returned to the University of Zimbabwe and served as a senior lecturer and head of the Department of Biochemistry from 1992 to 1997.[2] He later joined AstraZeneca R&D in Sweden as a principal scientist and project leader, focusing on drug discovery and development in various areas such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and infectious diseases. He played a key role in establishing the AstraZeneca Africa Pharmacogenetics Research Network, which aimed to study the genetic diversity and drug response of African populations.[3][2]
In 2007, Masimirembwa founded the AiBST, a non-profit research institute in Zimbabwe that focuses on biomedical science and technology, with an emphasis on pharmacogenetics and clinical pharmacology. He is a distinguished professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Cape Town.[2] As the president and chief scientific officer of the institute, he manages collaborations with various academic, industry, and government partners. He also leads the African Pharmacogenomics Consortium (APC), a network that aims to advance pharmacogenomics research and applications in Africa.[2] He has authored over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, and has guided numerous postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows.[3][5]
Selected publications[edit]
- C, Masimirembwa; L, Bertilsson; I, Johansson; JA, Hasler; M, Ingelman-Sundberg (1995). "Phenotyping and genotyping of S-mephenytoin hydroxylase (cytochrome P450 2C19) in a Shona population of Zimbabwe". Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 57 (6). Clin Pharmacol Ther: 656–661. doi:10.1016/0009-9236(95)90228-7. ISSN 0009-9236. PMID 7781265. S2CID 41461750. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- C, Masimirembwa; I, Persson; L, Bertilsson; J, Hasler; M, Ingelman-Sundberg (1996). "A novel mutant variant of the CYP2D6 gene (CYP2D6*17) common in a black African population: association with diminished debrisoquine hydroxylase activity". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 42 (6). Br J Clin Pharmacol: 713–719. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2125.1996.00489.x. ISSN 0306-5251. PMC 2042718. PMID 8971426.
- CM, Masimirembwa; JA, Hasler (1997). "Genetic polymorphism of drug metabolising enzymes in African populations: implications for the use of neuroleptics and antidepressants". Brain Research Bulletin. 44 (5). Brain Res Bull: 561–571. doi:10.1016/s0361-9230(97)00307-9. ISSN 0361-9230. PMID 9365799. S2CID 24356968. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- Li, Xue-Qing; Björkman, Anders; Andersson, Tommy B.; Ridderström, Marianne; Masimirembwa, Collen M. (1 February 2002). "Amodiaquine Clearance and Its Metabolism toN-Desethylamodiaquine Is Mediated by CYP2C8: A New High Affinity and Turnover Enzyme-Specific Probe Substrate". Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 300 (2). American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics: 399–407. doi:10.1124/jpet.300.2.399. ISSN 0022-3565. PMID 11805197. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- Li, Xue-Qing; Björkman, Anders; Andersson, Tommy B.; Gustafsson, Lars L.; Masimirembwa, Collen M. (1 September 2003). "Identification of human cytochrome P 450 s that metabolise anti-parasitic drugs and predictions of in vivo drug hepatic clearance from in vitro data". European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 59 (5–6): 429–442. doi:10.1007/s00228-003-0636-9. ISSN 0031-6970. PMID 12920490. S2CID 23753466.
Awards and honours[edit]
Collen Masimirembwa was named a Fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences in 2017 and the African Academy of Sciences in 2018. In 2018, he was awarded the HUGO Africa Award. The Grand Challenges Africa Award was presented to him in 2016. He was the recipient of the EDCTP Senior Fellowship Award in 2014 and the Wellcome Trust Senior Fellowship Award in 2012. AstraZeneca R&D acknowledged his work with the Global Scientific Award in 2006 and the Global Innovation Award in 2005.[3][6]
References[edit]
- ^ "Collen Masimirembwa". urban-press. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Dr. Collen Masimirembwa, President and Founder of The African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Harare, Zimbabwe" (PDF). Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Collen MASIMIREMBWA". ICGEB. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "International Science Programme (ISP)". Uppsala University, Sweden. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Professor Collen Masimirembwa". EDCTP. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Collen Masimirembwa". Global Grand Challenges. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2023.