The two appointments to the Precision Health University Research Institute (PHURI) strengthen the Institute’s focus on precision medicine and reflect its commitment to genomic diversity in research.
Queen Mary is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Segun Fatumo as Chair of Genomic Diversity and Professor Simon Haas as Chair of Single Cell Technologies and Precision Medicine in PHURI.
PHURI continues to attract global talent, bringing together multi-disciplinary researchers to drive innovation in precision healthcare in East London. PHURI’s research focuses on how disease impacts different patient groups and how to best address their needs, aiming to change lives locally and globally.
Professor Segun Fatumo, Chair of Genomic Diversity
Segun Fatumo is a computational geneticist with a speciality in Genomics of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in African Populations. Professor Fatumo joins Queen Mary from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). He retains a position in as the head of NCD Genomics at the Medical Research Council (MRC)/ Uganda Virus Research Institute and LSTHM Uganda Research Unit.
Professor Fatumo said: "I am incredibly delighted to join Queen Mary as Professor and Chair of Genomic Diversity. I'm dedicated to championing African representation and inclusion in genomics. Global genomic medicine's potential hinges on investigating the genomes of all populations. However, past efforts have disproportionately centred on European ancestry. To achieve true equity, we must broaden our scope to include African contexts, essential for a comprehensive understanding of genomics. At PHURI, my focus is driving these crucial changes, ensuring genomics becomes truly inclusive and equitable for all."
Professor Simon Haas, Chair of Single Cell Technologies and Precision Medicine
Simon Haas is a Professor at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) and the Max Delbrück Centre (MDC) in Berlin. His research group is developing innovative technologies to decode the intricate causes of cancer, with the goal of advancing personalized medicine.
Professor Haas said: “I am highly honoured to join PHURI and Queen Mary; I am particularly excited about the possibility of merging novel single-cell technologies with large-scale population data to develop innovative diagnostics and more precise therapies. The diverse population in East London in combination with the multi-disciplinary setup at PHURI provides a unique possibility for new scientific discoveries, enabling personalised health solutions for all patient groups.”
Professor Claudia Langenberg, Director of the Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Segun and Simon to our PHURI team. The appointment of these outstanding scientists is a major milestone for PHURI, building and strengthening the senior leadership of our growing Institute. I look forward to working with them and their teams to develop and deliver patient-focused research and healthcare innovations.”
Visit the PHURI website to learn more about the Institute and its work.
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