Meet the first African graduate of Genomic Medicine from Oxford University

Sainabou Laye Ndure is the first African to have obtained a Master's Degree in a course that seeks to find methods of handling and curing genetic diseases. She has a Master of Science degree in Genomic Medicine after graduating from the prestigious Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

Genomic Medicine, according to the National Library of Medicine, is an interdisciplinary medical speciality involving the use of genomic information [the study of genes (DNA) and their interaction with health].

After completing this course, the Gambian woman became the first Gambian graduate to have studied as a Mastercard Foundation AfOx scholar.

Sainabou gained full admission to pursue a Master's Degree in Genomic Medicine at the Reuben College, University of Oxford after graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Eastern Mediterranean University, emerging as the best graduating student in her course.

Her admission makes her one of the first 21 persons globally to be accepted into the University for this course.

She subsequently moved on to work as a scientific officer in the Genomics Platform at the Medical Research Council, London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine.

She was part of the team that performed SARS-COV-2 sequencing and analysis which helped identify the viral variants and hotspots of transmission in the Gambia.

She is a Molecular Biologist and also the Founder and Chairperson of the Human Genetics Awareness Association (HuGAA).

Sainabou hopes to change lives through the development of solutions for genetic diseases, particularly in her country.

“I believe if I apply the knowledge acquired at Oxford back home, a handful of lives can be changed for the better. I hope to be part of a team that will one day develop a cure and or, better methods of handling genetic disease,” she was quoted by the Africa Oxford Initiative.