Kigali, Rwanda and Cape Town, South Africa – 25 March 2026 — Bio Usawa and the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) are proud to announce the inaugural 2025–2026 cohort of their joint microgrant program, building on work initiated in 2025, recognizing outstanding early- and mid-career researchers driving innovation in cancer care systems across Africa.

Selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 150 applicants, the cohort represents five countries and a shared commitment to strengthening equitable cancer care delivery on the continent:

• Martha Mwaba — Zambia
• Bance Diane Eléonore — Burkina Faso
• Abdulkareem Kabir — Nigeria
• Felix Mburu Njoroge — Kenya 
• Norman Carl Swart — Botswana

Each winner will receive up to USD $5,000 in seed funding to implement innovative, locally grounded research projects over a 12-month period.

“Investing in African researchers is central to our mission. These winners embody the kind of locally driven, high-impact work needed to close critical gaps in cancer care,” said Dr. Menghis Bairu, Co-founder, President and CEO of Bio Usawa.

Beyond funding, awardees will have opportunities to present their findings at AORTIC conferences and contribute to the AORTIC Journal, further amplifying African-led research on a global stage.

Dr. Miriam Mutebi and Dr. Abiola Ibraheem, Co-chairs of the AORTIC Access to Innovation Special Interest Group (SIG), added, “This cohort reflects the depth of talent and innovation across Africa. We are excited to support these researchers as they generate evidence and solutions that will directly improve cancer care systems in their communities.”

This initiative marks a major step in the commitment of Bio Usawa and AORTIC to catalyze the next generation of oncology researchers and advance Africa-led solutions in cancer care.

About Bio Usawa:

Bio Usawa is a biotechnology company dedicated to democratizing access to life-saving biopharmaceuticals across Africa. Founded on the principle that geographic location should not determine healthcare outcomes, the company specializes in developing and manufacturing affordable, high-quality monoclonal antibodies.

About AORTIC:

AORTIC is an African non-governmental organization dedicated to cancer control research in Africa. Its mission is to improve cancer outcomes through research, education, and collaboration with national health ministries and global partners.