Leon Mutesa

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Leon Mutesa
Born
Leon Mutesa

Rwanda
NationalityRwandan
Alma materUniversity of Rwanda
(BSc, M.D.)
University of Liège
(PhD)
AwardsLifetime Contribution by HUGO
Scientific career
FieldsHuman Genetics
InstitutionsUniversity of Rwanda, CHUK and RBC

Leon Mutesa is a Rwandan geneticist, who has served as Director of Centre for Human Genetics that he created in 2006 at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences-University of Rwanda.[1][2] Prior to this, he has been continuously serving at the institution since 2004, starting as assistant lecturer and rose to professor in 2019.[3] Leon has led various research groups working on different research program including infectious diseases (HIV, Malaria, NTDs), genomics and genetics, as well as epigenetics.[4] He also serves as a board member of International Vaccine Institute.[5]

Addition to this, in 2011, Leon was appointed by the government of Rwanda as a head of Medical Research Division at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, he served until 2013.[6] As a geneticist, during COVID-19 Leon was a member of COVID-19 task force in Rwanda, he led the laboratory testing under WHO consultancy.[7][8] Leon serves as president of the Rwanda Down Syndrome Organization which supports people with Down syndrome in Rwanda.[9] In April 2024, he was awarded the African Prize for Lifetime Contribution in human genetics by HUGO-Human Genome Organization.[10]

Education[edit]

Leon attended University of Rwanda, where he graduated with bachelor's degree in Human Biology in 1998. Subsequently, Leon continued his enrolment at the institution to pursue a medical and surgical degree, he graduated with Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 2003. Since 2009, Leon holds a PhD degree in Human Genetics from University of Liège, Belgium.[6]

Academic career[edit]

After graduating with Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, in 2004, Leon started working at University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences as an assistant lecturer. In 2006, he founded the Centre for Human Genetics at the institution and became its director. In 2010, he became senior lecturer. In 2015, Leon rose to associate Professor of Human Genetics.[11] He has been a visiting professor of Human Genetics at various institutions, including University of Liège in Belgium, Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal, and he was promoted to the Professor title in 2019.[3]

Additional career[edit]

Between 2009 and 2011, Leon was a Director of the Department of Clinical Biology at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), the largest referral hospital in Rwanda. Subsequently, he was appointed by the government of Rwanda as a head of Medical Research Division at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, a Rwanda's national health implementation agency established by Ministry of Health. His work included coordinating health related research activities in all national medical institutions, he served until 2013.[12] Between 2013 and 2021, Leon worked with the Rwanda National Police as consultant for the implementation of the Kigali Forensic Science Laboratory, a laboratory that supports the justice system with evidence based on science and technology for use in courts of laws and other justice bodies in Rwanda.[13][6]

Scientific contributions[edit]

In 2009, Leon joined the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG) and created the Rwandan Society of Human Genetics (RSHG) in 2016. In 2018, Leon led the team which organized and hosted the joint 11th Conference of AfSHG, 1st Conference of RSHG and 12th H3Africa Consortium Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.[14]

Since 2014, Leon has advocated for health insurance coverage for genetic examination for patients in Rwanda and currently, most health insurances cover the karyotype exam, cytogenetic and molecular tests.[15] In 2016, Leon with Edwige Musabe created the Rwanda Down Syndrome Organization which trains family members and teachers in Rwanda to support the development of children with Down syndrome, in 2021 it was following over 1,000 patients, Leon serves as president of the organization since its founding.[4][16]

As a geneticist, during COVID-19, Leon was among the Rwanda government’s COVID-19 task force where he was coordinating COVID-19 laboratory testing under WHO consultancy.[17][18][19] Leon and his research group implemented various research projects aiming at building human capacity for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostic and management in Rwanda.[20][21] They published a Nature’s paper on their discovery pooling testing strategy which shows a cost-saving approach for better use of SARS-CoV-2 limited testing resources.[22] Leon has pioneered new developments and implementation of a reference center for medical genetics in Rwanda, which is the only one in the East African Region.[20] In 2021, Leon led 2 major clinical trials one on Malaria, a multi-Centre Phase III randomized controlled non-inferiority clinical trial, a study by the Development of Triple Artemisinin Combination Therapies (DeTACT); and another one on COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate, a Phase I/IIa Trials funded by Oxford and International Vaccine Institute, respectively.[2][23]

Awards and honors[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UR to open Biotechnology Master's Programme by next year – Rwanda inspirer". 14 June 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Leon Mutesa | University of Rwanda in Kigali". berlinscienceweek.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Two academic staff promoted to Professor - University of Rwanda". ur.ac.rw. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Mutesa, Léon (1 March 2022). "A genetic research story of giving back and returning to the country of a thousand hills". Nature Genetics. 54 (3): 216–218. doi:10.1038/s41588-022-01028-9. ISSN 1546-1718.
  5. ^ Em, Aerie (20 April 2022). "International Vaccine Institute appoints two members to its Board of Trustees representing Ecuador and Rwanda". IVI. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Reporter, Times (5 November 2016). "Meet Dr Leon Mutesa, Rwanda's first medical geneticist". The New Times. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Rwanda Turns to Mathematical Approach to Enhance Coronavirus Testing". Voice of America. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  8. ^ ADF (10 November 2020). "Rwanda Earns Praise for Multifaceted Virus Response". Africa Defense Forum. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  9. ^ Courtney (9 November 2017). "Down Syndrome Advocacy in Rwanda". Inclusion Evolution. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  10. ^ Uwamariya, Yanditswe na Nadia. "Umunyarwanda yahembewe kuvumbura ko ihungabana ryatewe na Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi rihererekanywa mu muryango". Kigali Today. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  11. ^ Sabiiti, Daniel (21 September 2018). "New Research Shows Traumatic Disorder Among Children Conceived During Genocide". KT PRESS. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  12. ^ Reporter, Times (24 November 2011). "Regional experts discuss anti-malaria drug". The New Times. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  13. ^ Buningwire, Williams (7 March 2023). "ASFM 2023 Kicks Off With Call For More Investment In Forensic Science To Deliver Quality Justice". KT PRESS. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  14. ^ Musanabaganwa, Clarisse (3 June 2020). "Building Skills and Resources for Genomics, Epigenetics, and Bioinformatics Research for Africa: Report of the Joint 11th Conference of the African Society of Human Genetics and 12th H3Africa Consortium, 2018". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 102 (6): 1417–1424. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0837. ISSN 0002-9637.
  15. ^ Teteli, Raissa; Uwineza, Annette; Butera, Yvan; Hitayezu, Janvier; Murorunkwere, Seraphine; Umurerwa, Lamberte; Ndinkabandi, Janvier; Hellin, Anne-Cécile; Jamar, Mauricette; Caberg, Jean-Hubert; Muganga, Narcisse; Mucumbitsi, Joseph; Rusingiza, Emmanuel; Mutesa, Leon (25 September 2014). "Pattern of congenital heart diseases in Rwandan children with genetic defects". The Pan African Medical Journal. 19 (85). doi:10.11604/pamj.2014.19.85.3428. ISSN 1937-8688.
  16. ^ Mwiza, Shallon (22 March 2024). "Rwanda: Advocates and supporters gather to 'end stereotypes' on World Down Syndrome Day". The New Times. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  17. ^ https://www.courthousenews.com/leon-mutesa/
  18. ^ "Rwanda opts for pool testing in response to COVID-19 – Africa Science Magazine". sciafmag.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  19. ^ Mutesa, Leon (2 July 2020). "Rwanda's COVID-19 pool testing: a savvy option where there's low viral prevalence". The Conversation. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Dr. Leon Mutesa – H3Africa". Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  21. ^ Sebasaza, Yanditswe na Emmanuel Gasana. "Virusi ya Corona yo mu Buhinde ntiragera mu Rwanda - Prof. Mutesa". Kigali Today. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  22. ^ Mutesa, Leon (1 January 2021). "A pooled testing strategy for identifying SARS-CoV-2 at low prevalence". Nature. 589 (7841): 276–280. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2885-5. ISSN 1476-4687.
  23. ^ https://rwandafda.gov.rw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Q2-Rwanda%20FDA-Register%20of%20Approved%20Clinical%20Trials%20in%20Rwanda-December%202023_for%20approval.pdf
  24. ^ Kuteesa, Hudson (12 April 2024). "Rwandan doctor wins award for lifetime contribution in human genetics". The New Times. Retrieved 22 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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