I am pleased to introduce Abduljalal Nadabo, from Nigeria, a new African STARS Fellow, who is a pharmacist, researcher, and health policy fellow. He works at the intersection of vaccinology, regulatory science, and vaccine delivery innovation, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa.

One of my favourite things is to do is long trains journeys. Today, 7h trip from Kobe in southern Denmark to Uppsala in Northern Sweden. Time to enjoy beautiful nature and good time to think and do creative scientific work. #Train #Journeys

Tomorrow, I will be at the headquarters of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm, Sweden, to give a presentation on how to accelerate genomics surveillance and innovation in Africa. To join the meeting, please follow this link: lnkd.in/dhGxwDNN

What a day! A happy day, when we announce the winners of the African STARS Fellowship. Fifty (50) amazing African scientists that will work with us and IPD for up to one year to advance science and innovation in Africa! starsfellows.africa

Lenacapavir is the most exciting tool to fight AIDS since antiretroviral therapy by Peter Sands, head of Global Fund. Lenacapavir is being rolled out in 24 African countries and Gilead Sciences has already approved to be generic! So the most potent tool will be easily and cheaply available.

95% of generative AI pilots are failing? What do you think? Is that true?

Though provoking presentation by Prof Moffat Nyirenda on how diabetes presents like a very different disease in Africans! No need for obesity to develop diabetes in Uganda! Are we talking about two different diseases? MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Summit

What an amazing and inspiring lecture by Matthias H. Tschöp on the multiple benefits of GLP-1 and other anti obesity drugs! From cancer to alcohol addiction at Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Summit in Denmark LMU Munich – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Great visuals from the Global Disease Burden showing that both communicable and infectious diseases in decreasing quality of live in the world. Novo Nordisk Foundation Global Science Sunmit

20 millions deaths of cardio metabolic diseases a year, a challenge that Novo Nordisk Foundation want to solve! #NNFSumit2026

To decrease the cycle of neglect and panic, we continue to advance science on pathogens that can lead to new epidemics and pandemics. I am pleased to announce a significant output on Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), where our team analyzed over 20,000 new mutations. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Life is made of moments. This week, I experienced a special moment in Sweden by celebrating Midsummer. It was a memorable day filled with great friends and an opportunity to learn about Swedish culture and traditions. #Work #Life #Balance #Fun #Sweden

Today in Helsinki, I had the opportunity to meet with titans and founders, including Peter Vesterbacka, the founder of Slush and a notable figure in innovation. This meeting fostered great collaboration as we prepare for Slush, while focusing on bringing top Finnish entrepreneurs to SWEAT Africa.

This program instills hope in the world. Its main message is clear: "We can work together, without borders, to advance new therapies & diagnostics to the clinic." This collaborative effort can be approached positively & gently providing inspiration and capacity for numerous countries & universities.

Lovely music experience,'five fantastic Finish musicians playing by ear to innovators so we can feel how to create but also how to incrementaly build on ideas.

What to say? So inspiring to be in one of the most advanced Medical Innovation program in the world, the SPARK Global, having its annual meeting in Helsinki, Finland! Over 1000 spin outs created in 30 countries

A peaceful early morning walk by a calm sea to remember the youths that died on 16 of June 1976 protests for better education in South Africa

Long days in Finland! it is 10pm and sun still shinning as I arrive to the annual innovation meeting. A Special one as SPARK Stanford 20 years celebration and Finland 10 years of biotech and healthtech innovation.

I am honored to collaborate with leading African scientists and public health officials on the Ebola outbreak. In our article published in The Lancet, we discuss the challenges and priorities for epidemic preparedness and response. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

This week brought even more exciting news! A once-weekly Lenacapavir-based pill has now demonstrated similar outcomes to daily aARVs, i.e. non-inferiority. This could significantly impact treatment adherence and quality of life of people living with HIV www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/gilead-....

This week, nearly 100 international science communicators gathered at CERI to address the pressing issue of protecting scientists from aggression. Many scientists have expressed concerns about sharing scientific results due to the rise of anti-science sentiment from certain far-right factions

All are welcome, in person or online! Next Monday, I am delivering the SAMRC President and CEO Lecture Date: 8 June 2026; Time: 11:00 - 13:00 Location: SAMRC Headquarters in Cape Town and Online. Registration Information: www.samrc.ac.za/event/samrc-...

Just arrived at 702 studio to talk to a great host Bongani Bingwa about Ebola and other health threats listen live at m.youtube.com/@radio702/fe...

Proud to announce that tomorrow, I am hosting the first Pro-VC Open Lecture! Beyond the Silver Bullet: Solutions to Our Greatest Health Challenges by Prof Harsha Thirumurthy. All welcome. Date: 01 June 2026 Time: 12:45 – 13:45 Also can join online: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/380372...

After a super busy and successful week! A lovely hike to get close to nature

What an honor! To get The Order of Mapungubwe, South Africa's highest civilian national honor, awarded by the President. Awarded across four categories, it is an honour that has been conferred upon Nelson Mandela, among others. More info: ceri.africa/news/prof-tu...

Rainy day in Stellenbosch is great with a visit to Rupert Art Museum

Hantavirus Response Shows How Trump Cuts Have Compromised U.S. Preparedness www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/h...

So sad for children! More than ever, we need to strengthen global health, genomics and prevention. Measles Is Back. What Comes Next Will Be Worse. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/o... via @NYTOpinion

Do not miss, deadline for application: 31 April 2026! Not only we are bringing back to South Africa the top Bioinformatics Workshop on Virus Evolution but we are hosting in an amazingly beautiful location between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek #VEME2026 - veme.climade.health

Our publication in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveal a multiscale expansion process with both short- and long-distance dispersal or Oropouche virus, a new re-emergent pathogen. Our results also demonstrate a rapid advance on methods that can be used to track pathogens of global importance.

What defines a world-leading training event? In the coming days, I will share key elements that make the International Bioinformatics Workshop on Virus Evolution and Molecular Epidemiology (#VEME) one of the most impactful workshops I've ever participated in. Applications open! veme.climade.health

Lovely hiking early in the morning in Stellenbosch

Tomorrow, we are hosting an inspiring scientific seminar with a legend, Prof Brian Fox, which is the head, in my personal view, of the top biochemistry department in the world for decades, which is at @uwmadison.bsky.social We already have 300 people registered for online and in person! Please join!

So easy to get a flu shot in South Africa! It took 5 minutes in a pharmacy and costed ZAR 99 ! Ready for winter and flu season.

A must read piece that quote our scientific work on genomics surveillance by CNN, on 'how Kids may be more likely to get the new variant of Covid-19, scientists say. Here’s what to know about BA.3.2' - edition.cnn.com/2026/04/02/h...

As we return to work and school, it's crucial to be aware that the flu season is rapidly increasing in South Africa. We may be experiencing a more severe Flu/RSV/COVID-19 season, due to new strain of Flu, H3N2 Subclade K and the COVID-19 BA.3.2 - www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2026/04/01/f...

I am very honored to have been listed as one of the 10 Global Health Leaders by the European Commission EDCTP. I appreciate this recommendation and look forward to continuing to work to advance health globally. www.global-health-edctp3.europa.eu/results-and-...

Took this photo this week, which represents a new dawn, a new beginning, a new born. Special that it was around Easter. Wishing all an special time this week, which hopefully brings peace to the world

Very honored to have been cited by the Deputy Minister of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, as one of the success stories in South African Science during the first South African Innovation Week (#SAIW2026) in Johannesburg. www.dsti.gov.za/index.php/me...

This week, we published with the WHO at Nature Health on how Human MERS-CoV cases are falling but pose an ongoing pandemic threat. Be aware and respond to new MERS-CoV cases are of particular importance now with all the disturbances in the Gulf. www.nature.com/articles/s44... #WHO #MERS #pandemic

Found such a cool friend eating grapes during a Sunday cycling

Happy early morning walking in the mountains with dog and being aware or Guinea Fouls! Fun to live in Africa

It is lovely to start Friday with a lovely view of the mountains and vineyards around Stellenbosch... Happy Friday.

A quiet Sunday, seating under fig trees and enjoying folk music in a market in SA

Wow! SWEAT Africa started! All about networking with investors and founders! #SWEATAfrica #YoungAfricaWorks

South African Minister of Small Business Development Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams speech on women empowerment highlights the development of incubators, startuos, and SMEs in South Africa. Grea to see SA investment in innovation!

Very good event and speech by the minister of Women in South Africa on the need to develop women entrepreneurs and business, which is one of the man objectives of African STARS Fellowship and SWEAT Africa #YoungAfricaWorks #Women #Science

SWEAT Africa Tickets SOLD OUT! It's incredible to witness how quickly all tickets sold for the first experimental innovation festival in Africa. There is still significant interest from both investors and startups. What motivates you to try to attend a sold-out event? sweat.africa

We are excited to announce that we have over 100 startups registered to SWEAT Africa from 14 countries across the continent. If you are part of one of these startups and are interested in winning ZAR 100,000 in cash, consider joining our Pitching Competition visit: sweat.africa/hardtech-and...