Leon Mutesa

Prof Leon Mutesa is a Rwandan medical Doctor and geneticist ,professor at the University of Rwanda , and founder of country"s Center for Human Genetics_the only reference center for medical genetics in East Africa. He earned his PhD and postdoctoral training in Belgium and has since become a leading researcher in genomics, genetic disorders , and public health, including pioneering work on how trauma from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi may leave epigenetic marks passed for future generations. Quotes “We based the research on evidence from animal models, which were exposed to traumatic events and expressed mutations and changes of genes which was the same mutation found in the exposed group of women due to traumatic events during the genocide. But there was no mutation among the non-exposed.” New Research Shows Traumatic Disorder Among Children Conceived During Genocide KT Press ( 21 September 2018) “The epigenetic modifications underlying these dysfunctions may contribute to the transmission of traumatic stress from mother to offspring.” ew Research Shows Traumatic Disorder Among Children Conceived During Genocide KT Press ( 21 September 2018) “There is a way you can test the population by pooling samples.” Rwanda opts for pool testing in response to COVID-19 Scientific African Magazine ( 14 June 2020) “We’ve been pooling in the national markets, an area where you find a lot of people.” Rwanda opts for pool testing in response to COVID-19 Scientific African Magazine ( 14 June 2020) “Inspiring and very attractive for scientists.” “We based the research on evidence from animal models, which were exposed to traumatic events and expressed mutations and changes of genes which was the same mutation found in the exposed group of women due to traumatic events during the genocide. But there was no mutation among the non-exposed.” New Research Shows Traumatic Disorder Among Children Conceived During Genocide KT Press ( 21 September 2018 ) “The [virus’s] incubation period is seven to 14 days”, he says, and people who tested negative at the beginning of that period may have in fact been positive. “It is better to test twice in a hotspot area. Then you can monitor [them] with your national surveillance system.” Rwanda opts for pool testing in response to COVID-19 Scientific African Magazine ( 14 June 2020) “In those [community] poolings, we only found one positive in a pool of 20, and that allowed us to quickly give the result to people in other pools who were negative, and focus on the positive pool of 20.” Rwanda opts for pool testing in response to COVID-19 Scientific African Magazine ( 14 June 2020) “We’ve been pooling in the national markets, an area where you find a lot of people.” Rwanda opts for pool testing in response to COVID-19 Scientific African Magazine ( 14 June 2020) “The award is an inspiration to Rwandan and African young scientists, that we can make it. I want African and Rwandan scientists, researchers, doctors and so on to do more work that transforms society.” Rwandan doctor wins award for lifetime contribution in human genetics AFRICA Press ( 12 April 2024 ) This award is a good recognition of the work that has been done in Africa, especially in a country like Rwanda which went through the tragedy of the Genocide against the Tutsi 30 years ago. This is a good motivation to keep the momentum going forward. It also shows the international community that Rwanda has a lesson to teach them.” Rwandan doctor wins award for lifetime contribution in human genetics AFRICA Press ( 12 April 2024 )