System & synthetic biology for cancer research — mapping oncogenic pathways and modeling tumor microenvironments through computational frameworks.
Applying synthetic and systems biology to map oncogenic pathways and model tumor microenvironments. Our oncology cohort works at the intersection of computational biology and cancer research, supervised by PhD fellows with active research in gene therapy and type II diabetes.
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in many African nations, yet computational oncology research on the continent is sparse. Hela Bio's oncology program addresses this gap by training cohort members in the computational tools required to understand cancer at the molecular level — from gene regulatory networks to tumor-immune interactions.
The program uses systems biology frameworks to model how oncogenic mutations propagate through signaling cascades, and synthetic biology approaches to design genetic circuits that could eventually form the basis of novel diagnostic or therapeutic strategies.
Cohort members are trained in computational tools including molecular dynamics simulation, network analysis, and machine learning for genomics. Each research project is designed to produce publishable results in international peer-reviewed journals, with patent consultation available for novel discoveries.
"The combination of computational tools with hands-on mentorship creates a pathway that doesn't exist elsewhere on the continent for early-career cancer researchers."
Dr. Oteng'o — PhD Fellow, Oncology Program SupervisorThe oncology program follows Hela Bio's four-pillar model: academic–industry partnerships provide access to regional labs and computational resources; PhD supervision guides experimental design through manuscript preparation; patent consultancy protects novel discoveries; and the open-source IP framework (OpenMTA/BioBricks) ensures that foundational tools remain accessible to the broader research community.
Research associates work in project teams alongside ambassadors (Masters-level researchers with industry experience) under the direction of the PhD supervisor. This layered structure ensures that knowledge transfers in both directions — senior researchers stay connected to emerging questions, and junior members learn the discipline of structured research.
| Component | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Gene Regulatory Network Modeling | Mapping oncogenic pathway cascades | Active |
| Tumor Microenvironment Simulation | Computational TME models | Active |
| Synthetic Gene Circuit Design | Diagnostic/therapeutic circuits | In Development |
| Biomarker Discovery Pipeline | ML-driven genomic analysis | Planned |
| Patent Filing | Novel discoveries from cohort work | Ongoing Consultation |
| Publication Pipeline | International peer-reviewed journals | In Preparation |
Our oncology team is available to discuss cohort enrollment, research collaboration, or supervisory partnerships. We respond to all qualified enquiries within 48 hours.
