Dr. Collins Kipngetich Tanui, Ph.D., is a globally recognized microbiologist and pathogen genomics expert, currently serving as Program Lead and Principal Technical Officer for Pathogen Genomics – the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) at the Africa CDC, African Union. In this capacity, he drives continental strategies for genomic surveillance, shaping Africa’s preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics. His leadership spans strategic planning, capacity building, and implementation of cutting-edge pathogen genomics programs across all 55 African Union Member States, positioning Africa as a key player in global health security.
Dr. Tanui plays a pivotal role in strengthening laboratory and sequencing capacity, coordinating multi-country initiatives such as PAMTA – Partnership to Accelerate Mpox Testing in Africa, Cholera Genomic Surveillance in Africa (CholGEN) and Klebsiella genomic surveillance in Africa (KlebGEN), and advancing integrated genomic surveillance platforms for antimicrobial resistance and outbreak detection. He represents Africa CDC at high-level regional and international forums, influencing policy and fostering partnerships with global stakeholders, including Gates Foundation (GF), European Union (EU), World Health Organization (WHO), and other major donors. His expertise extends to bioinformatics, data integration, and predictive modeling, leveraging machine learning and advanced analytics to inform public health decisions.
In addition to his program leadership, Dr. Tanui is a core member of the Africa CDC Incident Management Support Team (IMST), providing technical guidance and rapid response to recent outbreaks of Mpox, Marburg virus disease, Ebola, and other priority pathogens across the continent. His contributions ensure timely genomic sequencing, data sharing, and actionable insights for outbreak containment and preparedness.
With a distinguished career spanning Africa, North America, and global networks, Dr. Tanui has contributed to international research community, outbreak response, and innovation in pathogen genomics. His work has been published in leading journals such as Nature Communications and The Lancet, and he actively shapes global discourse on infectious disease surveillance. Beyond research, he is committed to mentorship and education, developing policy, guidance documents, curricula, and training frameworks that empower the next generation of scientists in Africa.
Dr. Tanui’s vision and leadership have established him as a continental authority and global thought leader in pathogen genomics, driving Africa’s integration into the global health architecture and advancing science, technology, and innovation for public health security worldwide.
