BUA Institution

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Research Description

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) remains regionally endemic, with the highest burden occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the global target of eliminating NTDs by 2030, progress has been hindered by persistent challenges related to pharmaceutical access, availability and affordability. This project aims to shed light on barriers affecting the availability of NTD pharmaceuticals and to explore opportunities for strengthening continental manufacturing capacity to advance health sovereignty in Africa.

Where in the world has your career been largely based until now?

My professional career has been largely based in Rwanda. Since 2019, I have worked in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs at the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority, where I contributed to national regulatory processes and to the continental pilot of the African Medicines Agency's marketing authorization initiative. I have also served on several technical working groups focused on improving access to health products, including oncology treatments and long-acting therapeutics, particularly in low- and middle-income countries through ATOM Coalition Working Group and University of Liverpool.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was part of the technical team responsible for scaling up SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing at the National Reference Laboratory under the Rwanda Biomedical Centre. Over the past eight years, my work has consistently engaged with regional challenges in epidemic and pandemic response as well as understanding and addressing barries to the accessibility of essential pharmaceutical products across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Why Berlin?

Berlin's dynamic blend of history, innovation, and global connectivity makes it an ideal setting for research in global health. At its heart lies Charité–Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, a world-renowned institution whose legacy of academic excellence and pioneering medical research continues to shape transformative health solutions. As Europe's first university hospital, Charité not only offers unparalleled resources and expertise but also fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and systemic change, key pillars of my research ambitions. The city itself is a vibrant hub for international dialogue like world health summit, providing a rich ecosystem for engaging with pressing global health challenges. This unique convergence of academic strength, institutional leadership, and global relevance is what drew me to Berlin as the place to pursue my doctoral studies.

How did you become interested in your specific topic?

My interest deepened while co-leading the research focusing on the geographic trends of WHO-Prequalified Pharmaceuticals. We uncovered that only 13 out of 20 NTDs targeted for elimination by 2030 had at least one WHO prequalified pharmaceutical product while the remaining 7 had none, a stark reminder of the systemic inequities surrounding NTDs. Often portrayed as "diseases of the poor," they reflect broader challenges in access, prioritization, and global health governance. In light of Africa's growing push for its' health sovereignty, this realization drove me to focus on research that addresses these gaps and advances equity in global health.

What is your preferred way to communicate your research to the broader public or other specific sectors beyond academia? Where can we see, hear or read you next?

I share my research and career updates on LinkedIn, where I regularly post about each scientific contribution and engage with broader audiences.

What is something surprising that people might not know about you?

I am a huge fan of animated films, they are my go-to escape when I need to relax.

What were some challenging or discouraging moments in your career?

The year following my bachelor's degree was a dry period. I had no job and faced a wave of rejection emails. It was a discouraging time filled with many uncertainty, but I used it as an opportunity to develop my dissertation into a manuscript, which was later published in the Pan African Medical Journal. That initiative opened doors and helped build the resilience I carry into research today. I am deeply thankful to the mentors who guided me through that process.

What would your advice be for colleagues at home interested in a research stay in Berlin?

My advice is to face the fear of approaching potential supervisors, especially when there’s no prior collaboration or introduction through network who are proposing an research project. What matters most is a well-thought-out idea that aligns with your career goals and connects meaningfully to the work of your potential supervisors. If you can articulate that in an email, you are already on the right track. You don't have to make it perfect, you can shape it together but the idea has to be there.