Read the Conversation
Conversation highlights:
- Inspired by genomics technology tracking disease outbreaks, Mogale joined Illumina to help Africa strengthen real-time disease outbreak surveillance to integrate into public health.
- Illumina, through the Pathogen Genomics Initiative, helped empower over 45 African countries (up from 7) with genomics capabilities, advancing disease outbreak monitoring and routine public health surveillance.
- Maintains Africa is not just an emerging market when it comes to Infectious diseases and outbreaks, but the core use of disease solutions; highlighted ongoing work through Illumina’s streamlined whole genome sequencing for high-risk viral surveillance and research, and other public health concerns like cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and genetic diseases.
- Emphasized Illumina’s commitment to training, local talent development, and fostering cross-sector collaborations & partnerships with academia, Global Health entities, and pharmaceutical companies.
- Excited about the expansion of Illumina’s multi-omics solutions.
- Supports calls for genomic data ownership, regional harmonization, and rapid progress through public-private partnerships and cross-sector collaborations to improve African healthcare.
EF: Can you elaborate on your footprint and what you are trying to achieve with Illumina?
BM: My interest in Illumina and its technology began during the 2017–2018 listeriosis outbreak in South Africa. I was struck by how swiftly the Ministry of Health traced the source of the outbreak and saved lives. Curious about the process, I learned about sequencing technology—specifically Illumina’s MiSeq at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)—that enabled this rapid response. It was remarkable to see how genomics could help manage outbreaks, identify sources, and track them in real time. That moment sparked a profound question: If such technology exists, why do we still grapple with outbreaks and other life-threatening conditions? This led her to explore the transformative potential of genomics in public health.
Illumina’s mission to improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome resonates deeply with me. Genomics is essential to achieving global health goals, and for over 2 decades, Illumina has provided genotyping & sequencing expertise.
improve human health by unlocking the power of the genome,
I joined Illumina in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during this time that the Omicron variant was first identified, through a multistakeholder, multicenter collaborative effort in Botswana, Nigeria, and South Africa. So the mission was clear: to ensure Illumina provided the support Africa needed during this critical moment.
Today, I am proud to say that Illumina technology is powering genomic research in over 45 countries. Genomics is no longer a luxury -it is fast becoming the gold standard for public health surveillance.
Illumina wants to drive Africans to contribute to global genomic data. Literature shows that only between 2 and 3 percent of genomic data is of African origin, and most of that is actually from the African diaspora, not even from Africa. We have been able to change that trajectory. Between you and me, it has been very slow, but a lot of progress has been made.
EF: What opportunities do you see next as the short-term wins?
BM: In my opinion, ongoing efforts to strengthen public Health surveillance systems: Pathogen Genomics for outbreak response: Expand sequencing for real-time monitoring of infectious diseases like TB, HIV, and emerging viral threats.
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) tracking: Implement genomic tools to identify resistance patterns and guide treatment strategies.
- Regional genomic hubs: Shared sequencing centers to improve access, especially in countries that are currently adopting population-wide genomic studies. Cloud-based bioinformatics platforms for data analysis, incorporating multi-omics solutions
- Workforce Development: Training programs - upskill local scientists in sequencing, bioinformatics, and data interpretation. Collaborative networks - Foster partnerships between African institutions and global research bodies for knowledge exchange.
- Integration into Clinical Care: Cancer Genomics: adopt sequencing for oncology research & diagnosis. Genetic disease: Use NGS to improve diagnosis for genetic disorders, reducing misdiagnosis and treatment delays, ideally pivot some genetically complex conditions like sickle cell disease into newborn screening initiatives to minimize diagnostic odyssey
- Data sovereignty and contribution: African Genomic Databases: expand current repositories of African genomic data to improve representation in global datasets. Faster track ethical policy frameworks in countries that don’t have those.
EF: How do you see Africa adopting and using the best data? BM:
Our goal at Illumina is to empower African scientists to contribute meaningfully to global genomic data. Currently, only 2–3% of genomic data worldwide originates from Africa; the majority comes from the diaspora. We’ve been working hard to change that trajectory. Progress has been slow, but it’s real—and it matters. Our ambition is to unlock the power of the African genome, homegrown in Africa, by Africans for Africa. It is only then that the true meaning of Precision medicine & drug discovery will impact lives.
EF: How do you see the awareness of local players, innovators, and governments in Africa about the importance of genomics for allocating resources and investing in a better Africa?
BM: Cross-sector partnerships between the private sector, governments, funders, policymakers, and regulatory bodies are imperative. For governments, COVID-19 was a wake-up call. It showed how critical genomics is for tracking outbreaks and making quick decisions. Initiatives like Africa CDC’s Pathogen Genomics program have helped put genomics on the radar, but some countries still see it as “nice to have” rather than essential. So, resource allocation is limited.
On the innovation side, local startups and researchers are really pushing the envelope – critical projects like H3Africa and many others.
Some of these startups know genomics can transform healthcare and agriculture. The challenge? Funding for infrastructure is still scarce.
Academia is the most aware, although translating research into policy or commercial solutions is slow. And then there’s the big issue of policy gaps—data sharing, ethics, IP rights—those need serious attention.
The good news? Momentum is building. Public health crises, global partnerships, and the promise of economic growth are driving interest. Countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco, Tunisia, and Senegal are leading, but regional collaboration will be key so others don’t get left behind.
If Africa gets this right, genomics could be a game-changer—not just for health outcomes, but for food security and biodiversity.
EF: How are you helping the young generation to skill up and integrate into healthcare?
BM: One of my favourite topics is training the next generation. I am very passionate about this space. As a young graduate, it is always daunting to pursue a career; you often have no clue where to go, or if you do, limited spaces for the demand. Many young scientists end up relocating overseas for better prospects, so we lose talent – brain drain. Although some return with valuable skills and experience – brain gain, most remain forever lost
We have several initiatives, for instance, PGI was beyond donation of instruments and reagents, a big focus is on tech knowledge transfer & genomic capabilities. Another initiative is our collaboration with the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (IGH) in Nigeria’s Redeemers University in Ede, with Prof Christian Happi around workforce development. This focuses on hands-on training at Illumina’s solution centers globally. We have a team of Field Application Specialists across the continent, and part of their core responsibilities is to provide post-sales technical support for genomic instruments, reagents, and software.
Assist end users in experiment design, workflow optimization, and troubleshooting. Conduct on-site or virtual training sessions on how to use genomic tools effectively, especially for new NGS users.
We are also proud to have supported start-ups to help early-stage genomics start-ups to validate and scale their innovations, providing in-kind support of sequencing ancillaries, lab space, mentorships from subject matter experts, some for up to 18 months of incubation.
EF: Why is Illumina a partner of choice, and what is your final message?
BM: Illumina consistently leads the way in genomics innovation, delivering scalable and cost-effective sequencing solutions that empower researchers, clinicians, and public health programs worldwide. Beyond technology, Illumina’s commitment to accessibility and collaboration ensures that partners can achieve meaningful impact—whether advancing precision medicine, driving population genomics, or improving health equity.
My final message is that the Illumina Africa team, together with our Chanel partners, is deeply passionate about leveraging genomics to transform health outcomes, and Illumina’s mission perfectly aligns with that vision. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of genomics and making a lasting difference globally.
