The Jaris Computational Biology Centre has set a new standard in computational biology, by reshaping the scientific research landscape in Nigeria and beyond.
Founded in 2020, by a renowned Nigerian researcher in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Virology, and Computational Biology, Abayomi Adegboyega, said JCBC was a beacon of innovation in drug discovery and training, particularly in Africa.
A statement by the centre on Monday said Adegboyega’s vision for JCBC was born out of a deep desire to bridge the gap in drug discovery research across Africa.
Recognising the critical need for advanced computational tools in tackling pressing global and regional health issues such as COVID-19, cancer, malaria, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases, he sought to create a space where African scientists could access cutting-edge resources and training.
“My goal for Jaris Computational Biology Centre was to create a space where African scientists could gain access to the most advanced computational tools and methodologies.
“I wanted JCBC to serve as a beacon of innovation, empowering our researchers to make meaningful contributions on a global scale.”
“JCBC’s foundation is the product of a collaborative vision, with key contributors including Prof, Titilayo Johnson, a biochemist who mentored Abayomi; Prof. Taiwo Alemika, a pharmaceutical chemist; and Prof. Simeon Omale, an expert pharmacologist.
“The team was further strengthened by Opeyemi Iwaloye, a computational drug design expert and co-pioneer, as well as Dr. Grace Johnson, a medical doctor who later became Abayomi’s wife. Both of them are committed to advancing drug discovery.”
It revealed that since its inception, JCBC had trained over a thousand researchers from Nigeria and globally, providing them with crucial skills in computer-aided drug design.
Through specialised training, JCBC offers access to advanced software, tools, and hands-on experience that are often unavailable in traditional academic settings across much of Africa.
JCBC’s impact extends beyond training, with the center making significant strides in computational drug discovery.
“Researchers at JCBC have used computational methods to accelerate the discovery of potential antiviral compounds for diseases like COVID-19, as well as treatments for cancer, malaria, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. By simulating the effects of thousands of compounds on target diseases, researchers can quickly identify promising candidates before moving to costly and time-consuming lab testing, making drug discovery more efficient and accessible.”
It also added that Abayomi had personally led much of the research at JCBC, contributing to nearly 40 publications in high-impact journals.
The statement read, “His work, along with that of his colleagues, has focused on leveraging computational tools to identify and develop novel drug candidates, positioning Africa as an emerging leader in the global drug discovery landscape.
“The center’s first training session took place in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
An online conference, which attracted over a hundred scientists from around the world, was opened by Prof. Tanko Ishaya, then Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, who commended JCBC’s initiative to bring scientists together during such a challenging time. This conference began JCBC’s international collaborations, a hallmark of its ongoing work.”