A ZIMBABWEAN scientist has been awarded the Prestigious Humboldt research award in Germany, which comes with a €60 000 prize.
Professor Collen Masimirembwa was among 40 top international scientists in the social and natural sciences to receive the honour.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation was established in 1953 to recognise leading scientists from around the world.
It is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and some private entities.
Masimirembwa was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the fields of genomics and therapeutics, particularly for his pioneering work in deciphering the genomic diversity of African populations and its implications for the safe and effective use of medicines.
His research combines human genetics, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics to predict drug response.
Under the Alexander von Humboldt programme, Masimirembwa will work with his long-time research collaborator, Professor Julia Stingl of the University of Heidelberg.
Their research will focus on understanding drug-drug-gene interactions in patients taking multiple medications, who are at increased risk of adverse drug reactions.
- Zim scientist wins global award
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Masimirembwa is the founder and current president and chief scientific officer of Germany and the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST) in Zimbabwe.
He founded AiBST in 2002 to advance drug discovery and development across the continent.
He also holds the position of distinguished Professor of Research at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience in South Africa.
He spent a decade as a principal scientist at AstraZeneca in Sweden, specialising in pharmacokinetics and bioanalytics.
Masimirembwa leads several pan-African initiatives in genomics and therapeutics, including DMPK Africa, the Consortium for Genomics and Therapeutics in Africa and SPARK Africa.
A prolific scholar, he has authored over 130 peer-reviewed papers, numerous book chapters and two books.
His many accolades include the HUGO Africa Award (2018), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship (2021, with a US$1 million grant) and the Global Pioneer Award in Pharmacogenomics (2024).
In February 2025, he received another global honour: an international award at the Precision Medicine World Conference in San Jose, California, for his pioneering work in precision medicine in Africa.
Currently, Masimirembwa is spearheading major initiatives, including the launch of Centres of Excellence in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria and leading a multi-country clinical trial to optimise pharmacogenetic testing for African patients — further demonstrating his commitment to sustainable healthcare innovation in Africa.
In a personal congratulatory message, AiBST chair professor Reggies Wenyika said: “This remarkable achievement is a testament to your selfless service and outstanding contributions to science and innovation — not only in Zimbabwe and Africa, but also on the global stage.”
