About Us
Vision
To drastically reduce neonatal sepsis-related deaths worldwide by providing rapid, accurate, and accessible diagnostic solutions, starting with the most affected regions in East Africa, with a key focus on Rwanda.
Mission
Our mission is to research, develop, and market PCR diagnostic kits that enable the early and precise detection of neonatal sepsis, significantly reducing the time needed for diagnosis from days to hours. Starting in Rwanda and extending across Sub-Saharan Africa, we aim to give healthcare providers the tools to save newborn lives by diagnosing sepsis before it becomes fatal.
Values
- Innovation: We are committed to advancing diagnostic technologies specifically designed to detect neonatal sepsis quickly and accurately, helping healthcare providers save lives.
- Equity: We focus our efforts where the need is greatest, starting with Rwanda and other regions in East Africa, ensuring underserved newborns have access to critical diagnostic tools.
- Collaboration: Our diverse team of experienced biomedical researchers, professors, and lecturers from Germany and Rwanda works across generations and borders to drive impactful innovation.
- Sustainability: We aim to create solutions that are scalable from local markets in Rwanda to a global reach, ensuring sustainable improvements in neonatal care.
- Compassion: At the core of our project is the desire to save lives, providing life-saving solutions for newborns at risk of sepsis.
Our team consists of a diverse group of professionals from Germany and Rwanda, who bring with them a wealth of experience in science, business start-ups and marketing. This interdisciplinary expertise enables us to develop innovative solutions and bring them to market effectively.
Jean de Dieu Tuyishime is a biomedical laboratory scientist, university teaching staff and researcher in the molecular biology section of the biomedical laboratory sciences department at INES Ruhengeri, Rwanda. At this institution, his main activities are training and mentoring students during laboratory
practicals in molecular biology and carrying out research activities. He is currently leading medical and health research projects at the campus in partnership with other institutions such as Brown University (Rhode Island, USA), Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and National Council for Science and Technology (NCST). He works closely with students helping them develop research projects and supervising them during those research projects. He was recently awarded a scholarship
for training in Germany at BIORON GmbH, a company producing diagnostic kits for real time PCR, where he was involved in main laboratory work in molecular biology and project developing for diagnostic kits to extract DNA/RNA. Jean de Dieu Tuyishime conducted different biomedical and clinical research projects such as blood screening for malaria parasites (Izere et al., 2022), assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (Munezero et al., 2023) and investigating hepatitis B and C viral infections using immunochromatographic methods for diagnostic tests (Uwitonze et al., 2020).
Bruno Niyonkuru Rugira is a young scientist doing his final year of a bachelor’s degree in biomedical laboratory science, with molecular biology as his favourite subject. During high school he was awarded winner of the science competition of Rwanda in 2018 and this year he was awarded best student of the department. He is a passionate scientist: “I am excited that I get an opportunity to be engaged in an ongoing project focusing on Amplifying Hope: Empowering African Healthcare with PCR Kit Innovations for Neonatal Sepsis. This initiative, if adequately funded and implemented, holds the promise of transforming not only the health landscape of Rwanda but also contributing significantly to the well-being of the entire African continent, particularly in the realm of neonatal care, a journey that is as promising as it is endless.”
Dr. Ulrike Kühlmann: As a distinguished biochemist with extensive research experience in protein chemistry and structural biology, I have led numerous immunologic and PCR-based research initiatives. My contributions have resulted in a series of high-impact publications (e.g., Kühlmann et al., 2009; Kühlmann et al., 2008; Bühling et al., 2007; Kühlmann et al., 2000; Kleanthous et al., 1999). I am a respected lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences (RH) in Cologne, where I teach within the molecular biomedicine curriculum. Furthermore, I excel in scientific communication, engaging with diverse audiences through various media platforms, which is invaluable for presenting and marketing our project.
Prof. Dr. Ansgar Pommer: Experienced Professor and Head of the Department of Molecular Biomedicine with a strong background in medical and pharmaceutical research and development. With over 20 years of expertise, I have contributed to various areas including protein chemistry, early drug discovery, and diagnostics. My work has resulted in the filing of several patents and the publication of numerous papers in this field.
I am a versatile and accomplished biochemist who combines in-depth scientific knowledge with business acumen and effective teaching skills. My passion lies in bridging the gap between academia and industry, fostering innovation, and nurturing the next generation of scientists.
Prof. Dr. Ralf Kutsche is Deputy Head of the Department of Health & Biomedicine and has over 30 years of experience in basic research, particularly in the fields of high-energy and atomic physics, detector physics, bioinformatics and data science. He has made significant scientific contributions at renowned research institutes such as CERN and GSI and has authored numerous publications.
He combines sound scientific expertise with practical teaching approaches and the aim of driving innovation. In the field of bioinformatics, he has contributed to the further development of tumor therapies with heavy ions, among other things. He has also worked as a strategy consultant in the telecommunications, automotive and logistics industries. His expertise is in demand in various professional associations such as VDI, VDMA, VDE and ISO standardization.
I’m Matti Lievenbrück, a biomedical scientist with extensive experience in the field of drug development research. Besides my work experience in diagnostic laboratories, I was fully responsible for a project in Rwanda that investigated local plants for their suitability as new alternatives to antibiotics. A scientific paper about that project is soon to be published. My current job in sales adds to my unique academic and professional experience, which I am sure will contribute to the team. In 2023, I stayed in Rwanda for six months and I’m still maintaining very good relationships there. I’m proud to be part of the team and look forward to making a significant change in the mortality of newborns - in Rwanda as well as the rest of the world.
My name is Felicitas Winkels, and I hold a Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biomedicine along with an MBA in International Business. I have gained valuable research experience in Rwanda, where I focused on traditional medicine and the analysis of bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. My strong commitment to advancing health solutions, coupled with a solid scientific foundation and an entrepreneurial perspective, enables me to make meaningful contributions to our team. I am excited to collaborate with you all in driving innovative approaches to enhance healthcare outcomes!
