London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

A key aspect of this grant is the establishment of a new Assistant Professorship in Genomics, dedicated to coordinating and supporting bioinformatics activities at the Uganda Research Unit and building a pipeline of skilled African genomics scientists. 

Dr David Twesigomwe brings strong expertise in bioinformatics and human genomics. He holds a PhD in Human Genetics from the University of the Witwatersrand where his research addressed critical gaps in the distribution of cytochrome P450 star alleles across African populations and led to the development of StellarPGx, an open-source pipeline for scalable pharmacogenomic analysis.

His achievements include being the first Sydney Brenner Charitable Trust Postdoctoral Fellow between Wits and the University of Edinburgh, and a Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) trainee fellow supported by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. His training at the Uganda Virus Research Institute under the MUII-Plus programme laid the foundation for his career in bioinformatics training and capacity building. In his new role, Dr Twesigomwe will lead genomics training, mentor early-career scientists, and promote the integration of genomics into population health research across Africa.

“I am excited to take on this role and look forward to leveraging the UMIC to strengthen genomics research capacity within the Unit and across the region. This opportunity will allow me to further develop as a human genomics research leader by pursuing bold, innovative projects that address critical knowledge gaps in non-communicable disease genomics, working collaboratively with exceptional teams, mentors, and the world-class infrastructure at the Unit,” said Dr. David Twesigomwe.

The grant will also provide training bursaries for early-career researchers in Africa, equipping them with advanced genomics and bioinformatics skills. Recipients of the bursaries will have enhanced access to UMIC’s high-performance computing infrastructure, specialised bioinformatics software, secure data storage systems, and expert mentorship in genomic research.

This award reflects the Uganda Research Unit’s important role  in African genomics and builds on its participation in regional and global efforts focused on equitable research, data sharing, and African scientific leadership.

Professor Moffat Nyirenda, Professor of Medicine at LSHTM and Director of the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit said, “We are grateful to Roche for their support, which will help advance our mission to strengthen African leadership in genomics research. We look forward to seeing the meaningful contributions this support will drive in championing African-led scientific innovation.”

Lisa Slater, Head of African Genomics Program at Roche said, “Our support of the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit reflects Roche’s commitment to investing in infrastructure, skills, and mentorship that will accelerate discoveries and empower the next generation of genomics leaders. By expanding access to UMIC’s advanced technologies and training, we can help unlock new possibilities in genomics research that benefit populations in Africa and beyond.”     

About UMIC
The Bioinformatics Platform at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit is a regional leader in computational biology and data science. We provide cutting-edge tools and expertise that help researchers turn complex biological datasets into meaningful insights, advancing work in genomics, transcriptomics, microbiome science, and other high-throughput molecular technologies. Through close collaboration with scientific teams, we ensure that data is not just collected, but understood, interpreted and applied to solve real-world health challenges. Learn more