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From a young age, my fascination with life sciences led me to follow in the footsteps of my grandmother, a pediatrician, whose name I proudly bear. After graduating from Tbilisi State Medical University in 2004, I pursued my PhD in neuroscience under the guidance of my lifelong mentor Elene Abzianidze. However, it was not until my clinical training in neurology in 2015, when seeing children with rare neurological diseases, that I realized the importance of precise diagnosis.
The preparedness of Africa for genomic medicine remains a matter of debate because this question is always evaluated from a technological standpoint. Yet the resilience of African researchers and the cultural values of equity and fairness are important assets to be considered in planning for the future of genomic medicine in Africa.
To do good science, we need to include diverse perspectives, work across disciplines and think outside the box while reminding ourselves that our goal as scientists is to serve humanity. I am sharing my story to encourage others to trust their gut feelings and to have the courage to see what everyone sees, but think what no one has thought.
Would genetics research be a priority for Rwanda while the country was rebuilding just after the 1994 genocide against Tutsi? This was a question that I needed to consider. Sometimes, it is very hard to make the best choice for your career in a new scientific discipline when you have no role models and the only way forward is to start from scratch. Later, however, you can look back on what you have accomplished with surprise, and pride, when you see all your efforts paying off. Here I tell the story of my journey in genetics research, from rebuilding a country after trauma to facing our current COVID-19 pandemic challenges.
It’s time for a paradigm shift in the scientific enterprise. Our social responsibilities, especially as stakeholders in a field such as genetics, are central to the responsible conduct of research.
Given an opportunity to chronicle the experience of traversing America as a Black man, I elect to convey a less frequently told vantage point. This is the perspective of the ‘accomplished’ bootless.
