H3Africa Spotlights

Rasheed Taiwo is the Study Coordinator of the NIH-funded Indigenous Linguistic and Cultural Concepts of Heritability and Comprehension of Genomics Research in Nigeria (INDIGENE Study) and the supplement grant to develop a training program for ethics committees in Africa on ethical review of genomics research projects (PI: Prof. Clement Adebamowo). [https://indigenestudy.bioethicscenter.net].

Rasheed is currently a Research Associate at the Center for Bioethics and Research (CBR), Ibadan, Nigeria. He is a social science, behavioral and biomedical researcher with extensive training in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and bioethics. He has research interests and practical experience in manpower training, educational measurement, programme evaluation, research design, bioethics and genomics research. He has expertise in research operational skills, professional development skills, data analysis, as well as in ethical legal and social implications of genomic research (ELSI). He is presently pursuing his doctorate degree.

He is highly skillful, with analytical, problem-solving, software, interpersonal, and effective communication skills. He is motivated, smart at work and a results-achiever who delivers on deadline. His resourcefulness, dynamic team-playing and strong passion for excellence have earned him several local and international awards. He is committed to continuous personal, career and professional development. His focus is on interdisciplinary knowledge generation, transmission and application (research activities) for a better human society.

Rasheed is part of H3Africa Study Coordinators, Ethics and Community Engagement, and Education and Coordinated Training Working Groups. You can reach him and interact further via e-mail, WhatsApp or call – olanrewajutaiwo@bioethicscenter.net; +234 803 4856636.

Ruth Nanjala is the inaugural AfOx Kennedy Trust Prize Studentship Scholar. Ruth is a bioinformatician with a research focus on computational analysis of  the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) region and its relationship to complex immune-mediated diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis.

Ruth graduated with a distinction for the M.Sc. in Bioinformatics at Pwani University, Kenya and the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her Master’ research focused on evaluating the accuracy of genotype imputation in the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region in selected African populations. She holds a first-class B.Sc. degree in Microbiology from Pwani University, Kenya.

Ruth is interested in HLA genetics, focusing on applying bioinformatics to understand the mechanisms underlying human diseases, especially immune complex-mediated diseases. She hopes to work towards addressing the gap in disease diagnosis, prognosis and treatment and thus address health challenges in Africa and beyond.

Ruth is also passionate about capacity building and has been involved with different projects aimed at building Bioinformatics capacity in Africa. These include the Pan African Bioinformatics network (H3ABioNet) and the Bioinformatics mentorship and incubation program at the International Centre for insect physiology and ecology (ICIPE).

Ruth will read for a DPhil in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, based at The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and Reuben College.

Student 2023

DPhil in Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Reuben College
AfOx Kennedy Trust Prize Studentship and Clarendon Scholarship

Kenya