NUST Launches Regional Biobank to Drive Home-Grown Vaccines and Cheaper Medicines
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has taken a major step toward transforming medical research in Southern Africa with the launch of a regional biobank designed to support the development of locally tailored drugs, diagnostics and vaccines.
The new facility, known as the NUST Institute of Immunopharmacology and Biobanking, will collect, process and store biological samples for advanced research aimed at tackling infectious diseases prevalent in Africa.
Vision for African-led solutions
The institute’s long-term ambition is to become a continental centre of excellence in immunopharmacology, vaccine development and clinical research, reducing Africa’s reliance on externally developed medical interventions that often fail to address local realities.
The launch was held yesterday at the university’s Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane Technovation Centre, drawing academics, researchers and students from Zimbabwe, Uganda and Scotland.
Global health expert underscores local impact
Delivering the keynote address was Professor Francesca Mutapi, a leading global authority on infection and immunity and co-director of the Global Health Academy at the University of Edinburgh. She described the biobank as a critical tool for reshaping how medicines are developed for African populations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Prof Mutapi said the facility would enable Zimbabwe to design diagnostics, drugs and vaccines that directly respond to diseases affecting local communities.
“One of the most important advantages of a biobank is that it allows countries to develop their own solutions. This means medicines can be created, tested and produced in-country for the populations that need them most,” she said.
Faster research, fewer regulatory hurdles
Prof Mutapi explained that locally produced medicines significantly reduce regulatory delays often associated with imported drugs, speeding up research and approval processes.
“When a drug is made in Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans, it does not need repeated testing to confirm whether it works for local populations. This shortens the time between research and actual use,” she said.
She noted that many interventions developed in Western laboratories fail once deployed in African communities because they are not designed for local conditions.
Lower costs for patients
Beyond scientific advancement, the institute is expected to ease the financial burden on patients. According to Prof Mutapi, medicines developed abroad are often expensive because companies must recover high production and testing costs.
“Local production dramatically lowers costs,” she said. “That ultimately means cheaper drugs and vaccines for ordinary people.”
She cited ongoing work on bilharzia, one of the most widespread diseases affecting African children after malaria, as an example of how targeted research can deliver effective and affordable solutions.
Building capacity through collaboration
The launch was accompanied by a series of lectures by medical professionals, reflecting NUST’s commitment to training the next generation of researchers and clinicians while strengthening international collaboration.
With the establishment of the biobank, NUST is positioning Zimbabwe at the forefront of African-led medical research, signalling a shift toward sustainable, locally driven healthcare innovation.
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