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6th DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting

  • ECR Session: Spotlight on ECR Presentations

    Facilitator(s)

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    Dr Jasmit Shah

    UtiliZing health Information for Meaningful impact in East Africa through Data Science

    Dr. Jasmit Shah holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics from University of Louisville (2017), Masters in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics from University of Louisville (2011), and a Bachelors in Mathematics, Statistics and Chemistry from University of South Alabama (2009). He has ten plus years' experience in supervising research and data management, data analysis and statistics. His responsibilities have included conducting research and analyzing data for health solutions; use of statistical methods in observational epidemiological studies, clinical trials and computing applications. He also has experience conducting population level studies in low- and middle-income (LMIC) settings such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique and Pakistan. He is one of the lead trainers for EQUIST 2.0, a tool designed by UNICEF to enable the global health community to address the issue of equity in maternal, newborn and child health, and minimize health disparities among populations and has led the use and evaluation of EQUIST 2.0 in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia and Pakistan. He also has experience with LiST Tool as EQUIST uses LiST for impact projection and certain aspects of costing.

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    Mr Wisdom Akurugu

    DS-I Africa Coordinating Center

    Wisdom Akurugu holds BSc Biochemistry (Single Major) and MSc Bioinformatics degrees. Wisdom is interested in understanding genetic factors that place a person at risk of developing diseases. He has been mining human genetic exome data for variations that may protect or predispose asthmatic children on corticosteroid treatment to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression (HPAS). He is using various Bioinformatics, Computational and Statistical algorithms to identify, annotate and assess the impact of the potential variants on HPAS. Wisdom is enthusiastic about contributing to the effective and efficient treatment of asthmatics on corticosteroids based on his current project. In the near future, he looks to developing Bioinformatics, Computational and Statistical competencies in analysing large-scale robust genomic data. He is opened to collaborations in the areas of genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, structural biology, software development and teaching.

    Speakers

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    Ms Anotida Marrian Chapunza

    ETIQUET - EXtrapolating Temperature and aIr QUality Exposure in Space and Time: A Semi-Supervised Learning Framework for Environmental Intelligence in Data-Scarce Settings

    Developing data science solutions to mitigate the health impacts of climate change in Africa: the HE2AT Center

    Research Data Scientist with a BSc in Informatics and a passion for health research. I combine strong technical skills in Python, R, and GIS with a collaborative spirit to tackle complex challenges. Currently a Research Assistant at Place Alert Labs, I contribute to projects on environmental exposure by building machine learning models, performing spatial analysis, and ensuring research findings are clear and impactful. Always eager to learn and apply new methods to drive data-informed decisions.

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    Ms Chantale Ruto

    Predicting Liver Disease Progression Using Machine Learning: A Case Study of the MTRH Liver Clinic

    Advancing Public Health Research in Eastern Africa through Data Science Training

    I bring on board excellent communications and presentation skills,determination,confidence, media monitoring ,story writing,content production, marketing, and editing expertise, as well as expertise in graphics design, social media, and the development of digital communication strategies.

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    Mr David Nkurunziza

    Exploring the Role of Rhomboid Proteases in Mycobacteria

    Makerere University Data Science Research Training to Strengthen Evidence-Based Health Innovation, Intervention and Policy

    David is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine. His Ph.D. research investigates the use of eco-friendly processing technologies to improve the food production system through the sustainable valorization of underutilized resources. He aims to implement a circular economy model in the food value chain in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs) by replacing the conventional use of toxic solvents in the biorefining of biomass with alternative environmentally friendly solvents. His ultimate goal is to re-use the so-called waste and byproducts from the food processing sector and create highly valued bioproducts and biomaterials with potential applications in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and packaging industries.

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    Ms Effah Jemima N'da

    Impact of Maternal Heat Exposure on the Risk of Preterm Birth and Spontaneous Abortion in Yopougon

    Developing data science solutions to mitigate the health impacts of climate change in Africa: the HE2AT Center

    Effah Jemima N'da, an Ivorian national, is a passionate and dedicated researcher in the fields of chemistry, health, and the environment. Currently pursuing her PhD at Nangui Abrogoua University in Abidjan, her research focuses on the impact of heatwaves on maternal and child health—a critical issue in the context of climate change.

    Since 2022, she has been affiliated with the prestigious Swiss Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientique of Côte d'Ivoire, where she contributes to the HE²AT project as a PhD candidate. This project allows her to deepen her research while developing innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of global warming on vulnerable populations.

    Holding a master's degree in Water Resources and Environmental Risks, Effah Jemima has a strong academic background that enables her to tackle environmental challenges with rigor and depth. She has also enriched her career by working as a consultant on several major projects related to environmental and health issues, demonstrating a remarkable ability to adapt to various contexts and provide concrete solutions to the challenges encountered.

    With unwavering intellectual rigor, boundless dynamism, and exemplary adaptability, Effah Jemima N'da stands out not only for her technical skills but also for her ability to work in teams, manage complex projects, and effectively communicate her research to both the scientific community and the general public.

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    Mr Eyad Elbahtety

    High-resolution whole-genome sequencing meta-analysis in African populations reveals 134 novel loci in RBC traits

    BCX-Africa: Utilizing data science to evaluate the applicability of blood cell traits polygenic risk scores for disease prediction in Africa

    As a PhD student in bioinformatics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and University College London, I am passionate about applying computational methods to uncover the genetic and environmental factors that influence human health and disease. I am a recipient of the prestigious BBSRC LIDo scholarship, which supports interdisciplinary research and training in the life sciences. I am also a part-time postgraduate teaching assistant, where I mentor and tutor students in bioinformatics and statistics courses, as well as molecular biology, medicine practicals, and academic writing.

    Additionally, I am a Senior Research Technician at the Mayr's CVD proteomics lab at NHLI. I assist in research projects looking into the role of lipoproteins risk in asthersclerosis. I am the lead in sustanability initiatives, and I help automate lab management procedures.

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    Mrs Fauste Ndikumana

    Machine learning-based predictive modelling of mental health in Rwandan Youth

    SYNthetic Healthcare DAta Platform for Data Science Training

    University of Rwanda

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    Ms Florence Phelanyane

    Tuberculosis incidence during pregnancy vs post-partum: a longitudinal analysis among women living with HIV who accessed antenatal care in 2021 to 2025 in Western Cape, South Africa

    INnovative data Science to Impact the TB Epidemic

    I am a Senior Data Scientist for the Centre for Integrated Data and Epidemiology Research (CIDER) based at the Western Cape Government Provincial Health Data Centre (PHDC)

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    Ms Gloria Patricia Nalubega

    A Blood Transcriptomic Tool to Enhance HIV-TB Co-infection Diagnosis in African Pediatric Populations

    DSpace: Utilizing Data Science to Predict and Improve Health Outcomes in Pediatric HIV

    Makerere University

    Rapporteur(s)

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    Mr Willie Njoroge

    UtiliZing health Information for Meaningful impact in East Africa through Data Science

    Willie Njoroge is a research fellow for the UZIMA-DS Mental Health Project at the Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, where he leads research, implementation, and dissemination efforts at the intersection of data science and mental health in East Africa. His research interests include insomnia, rumination, circadian rhythms, substance use, self-harm, and psychological resilience. He is committed to producing evidence that is both methodologically rigorous and practically meaningful for populations in the region. His interests outside of academia include digital photography, travel, and food.