Paidamoyo Kachambwa

Title : Precision Medicine in Southern Africa

Abstract:

Africa is known as the origin of humanity; it has been shown that it’s rich genetic variation and disease progression are likely key to understanding pathogenesis of many complex genetic disorders. When considering Precision medicine, understanding this richness has an impact on improving the health of different ethnic populations around the world.  In context, the genetic diversity between 2 nearby African villages can be greater than that on a European continent. Conversely, African genomes are underrepresented in the body of work conducted. Realistically, on the continent, Precision medicine is expensive considering that the continent is struggling with basic health care. This makes personalised treatments unaffordable luxuries. A balance is needed to provide the offering for those who can afford while strategically paving way for public utility. This involves, but is not limited to, looking at factors such as local landscapes, disease burden and treatment programs. These factors are sometimes affected by trying to transfer findings and outcomes of studies on European and Asian-ancestry populations, which are not replicable to the continent of Africa. Studies have revealed that although Clinicians in Southern Africa have limited exposure to Precision medicine, they perceive it with positivity and desire to adopt it into their practices. With training and investment, it will lead to better outcomes for patients locally, adding to the body of knowledge globally that has a domino effect to better serve patients and research globally.  

Biography:

Paidamoyo Kachambwa works as the Senior Bioinformatician at Mediclinic Precise Southern Africa. Her main role is in developing efforts to better understand genomic data to give greater insights into Precision Health. This is in order to support a holistic approach to delivery of care, preventative and remedial, in a patient’s journey. She has enjoyed and has found that her strength is in diligently stitching the different components needed to deliver successful outcomes. In this and similar roles, she has aided or led in building and completing successful products and projects. This has refined her marketing, and project, product, and team management skills. These services and projects are based mainly in the diagnostic and research space. They utilize data from technologies, which include but is not limited to, NGS e.g., for NIPT and HLA typing; WES and WGS e.g., for rare diseases and panels like the Hereditary Cancer Panel; and lastly Microarray Genotyping e.g., for disease specific arrays like Prostate Cancer, the MADCaP array or wider ranging arrays like the Global Screen Array which can be used inform ancestry. These services and projects have been completed for clients and collaborators locally, in Africa and internationally.