NUST Launches Regional Biobank to Drive Home-Grown Vaccines and Cheaper Medicines
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has taken a major step toward transforming medical research in Southern Africa with the launch of a regional biobank.
The biobank is designed to support the development of locally tailored drugs, diagnostics and vaccines.
The new facility, known as the NUST Institute of Immunopharmacology and Biobanking, will collect, process and store biological samples for advanced research aimed at tackling infectious diseases prevalent in Africa.
The institute’s long-term ambition is to become a continental centre of excellence in immunopharmacology, vaccine development and clinical research, reducing Africa’s reliance on externally developed medical interventions that often fail to address local realities.
The launch was held yesterday at the university’s Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane Technovation Centre, drawing academics, researchers and students from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Scotland, The Herald reveals.
Global health expert underscores local impact
Delivering the keynote address was Professor Francesca Mutapi, a leading global authority on infection and immunity and co-director of the Global Health Academy at the University of Edinburgh.
She described the biobank as a critical tool for reshaping how medicines are developed for African populations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Prof Mutapi said the facility would enable Zimbabwe to design diagnostics, drugs and vaccines that directly respond to diseases affecting local communities.
“One of the most important advantages of a biobank is that it allows countries to develop their own solutions. This means medicines can be created, tested and produced in-country for the populations that need them most,” she said.
