Prof. Emile R. Chimusa, PhD
Chair / Founder AFROMIND | Northumbria University Newcastle, UK
Prof. Chimusa leads the Bioinformatic & Multi-Omics Data Science group at Northumbria University, specializing in computational genomics and AI for precision health. A key contributor to H3Africa and the African Genome Variation Project, he develops algorithmic frameworks tailored to African genetic diversity. His research spans statistical genetics, machine learning, and multi-omics integration, with focus on pharmacogenomics and cancer genomics. He champions data sovereignty, ethical AI, and capacity building across Africa, mentoring the next generation of bioinformaticians to ensure African leadership in genomic science.
Prof. Yosr Z. Haffani, PhD Habil
Chair / Founder AFROMIND | University of Manouba, Tunisia
Prof. Haffani is a Habilitated Assistant Professor at the University of Manouba, Tunisia, with PhD and postdoctoral training from Canadian institutions. Her research integrates genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and exposomics to advance precision oncology, with emphasis on pharmacogenomic diversity in African populations. She serves as International Expert for DAAD and former National Contact Point for Horizon 2020 Health. Recognized with the UK Women Leaders Connect Prize (2023), she bridges discovery with societal impact across Africa.
Prof. Houcemeddine Othman, PhD
Secretary General / Co-Founder AFROMIND | Hospital F. Hached, Tunisia & University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Dr. Othman is a bioinformatician and data scientist at Hospital F. Hached, Tunisia, and research visitor at the Sydney Brenner Institute, University of the Witwatersrand. He earned his PhD from the Institute Pasteur of Tunis. His research explores pharmacogenomic diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and its implications for drug response, developing computational tools to advance precision medicine implementation.
Prof. Nabil Amor, PhD
Treasurer / Co-Founder AFROMIND | University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Prof. Amor is a bioinformatician and Assistant Professor at ISSBAT, University of Tunis El Manar, with prior affiliation at King Saud University. His PhD focused on Mediterranean amphibian phylogeography. His research integrates bioinformatics, conservation genetics, and environmental DNA to study endangered species and ecosystem health. Notably, he provided the first molecular confirmation of Arabian leopard populations in Saudi Arabia using portable field sequencing.
Dr Nizar Ben Halim, PhD
Senior Manager of Clinical Excellence / Co-Founder AFROMIND University Manouba, Tunisia
Dr. Ben Halim is a geneticist and bioinformatician at ISBST, University of Manouba, specializing in population genetics, mutation analysis, and genetic epidemiology of inherited disorders in North African and Mediterranean populations. With 27 peer-reviewed publications, he has advanced understanding of founder mutations, mitochondrial lineages, and genomic patterns of inbreeding in Tunisian communities. His work applies genomic tools such as runs of homozygosity to reconstruct population history and assess disease risk
M. Montassar Torkhani, PhD Student
Junior Manager of Partner Development & Strategy, Co-Founder AFROMIND | University Manouba, Tunisia
PhD student in Bioinformatics at the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis. He holds a dual academic background in Biotechnology and Computer Science, along with dual Master’s degrees in Bioinformatics and Software Development & New Technologies. As a MOBIDOC scholarship holder, he conducts research in AI and deep learning applications in genomics. A Nextflow Ambassador, he promotes reproducible and scalable bioinformatics workflows. His work focuses on developing accessible computational tools that translate complex omics data into actionable insights for precision health.
Prof. Marion Adebiyi, PhD
Regional Representative (Sub-Saharan Africa) Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Prof. Adebiyi specializes in bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput datasets, with expertise in pathway analysis, protein structure prediction, and in-silico drug discovery. Her research applies machine learning and AI to study infectious diseases, pathogens, and vectors in African populations, including insecticide resistance mechanisms in malaria vectors. She heads the H3Africa projects and Entomology & Data Management divisions at Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe).
Prof. Solomon Benor, PhD
Regional Representative (East Africa) Ethiopian Ministry of Education, Ethiopia
Prof. Benor serves as CEO for Research and Community Engagement Affairs at the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, providing strategic leadership for national research policy and university-industry partnerships. He holds academic appointments at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, contributing to plant biotechnology, biodiversity conservation, and agricultural genomics. With over two decades of experience across academia, government, and international development, he champions South-South collaboration and African-led science.
Prof. Mai F. Tolba, PhD
AFROMIND Regional Representative (North Africa) Ain Shams University, Egypt
Prof. Tolba is an Associate Professor in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Ain Shams University and AFROMIND Regional Representative for North Africa. Her research bridges molecular oncology, cancer pharmacology, and translational therapeutics, focusing on novel combinatorial strategies to enhance cancer treatment efficacy. She has contributed significantly to understanding oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cancer immunotherapy.