The Department of Academic Affairs is involved in postgraduate training at continuous professional development (CPD) level, MSc and PhD levels. The CPD training aims to both up skill biomedical industry scientists and/or bridge the hands on skills gap between university training and industry’s skilled manpower needs. Training at Master level is mainly to produce highly skilled laboratory technologist to drive the translational research programs at AiBST and to meet industry’s skilled manpower needs. The current HEXCO accredited courses include one month certificate of competence in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Biobanking, Biotechnologies and in Pharmacometrics. Registered MSc degree include an MSc in Genomics and Precision Medicine, MSc in Pharmaceutical Medicine, MSc in Forensic DNA and MSc in Forensic Toxicology. PhD degree programs are mainly in the two areas of institutional strengthe, genomics and therapeutics. For more information, contact Dr. Stanely Mukanganyama, Department Head (smukanganyama@aibst.edu.zw)

The Department of Genomics & Bioinformatics has interests and expertise in diverse areas of genomic medicine. The members of staff are involved in research that is of great economic and social importance to Zimbabwe and Africa at large. The research includes areas such as pharmacogenetics for the safe and efficacious use of medicines in the treatment of infectious and noncommunicable diseases, single cell atlas of musculoskeletal tissue, genomic biomarkers for disease risk, and vaginal microbiomes in the pathogenesis of HPV associated cervical cancer.. The department has well-equipped laboratories, offering access to biobanking facilities, PCR, RT-PCR, Sanger sequencing, NextSeq2000 Next generation sequencing, X10 Single cell RNAseq platforms. Services offered by this department include forensic DNA testing and molecular diagnostics in HIV, HPV and HBV. The department is responsible for the postgraduate training of PhD students, Masters students in Genomics and Precision Medicine, MSc in Forensic DNA and for the HEXCO accredited courses of competence in Biobanking, Genomic Technologies, and Bioinformatics. . For more information, contact Dr. Zedias Chikwambi, Department Head (zchikwambi@aibst.edu.zw)

The Department of Therapeutics has interest and expertise in diverse areas of pharmacology including drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), bioanalytical chemistry (BAC), pharmacometrics, and molecular pharmacology. The research activities in this department include drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) for drug discovery, clinical pharmacokinetic studies including bioequivalence services, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), and forensic Toxicology. Technology platforms in the department include HPLC systems, LC-MSMS and various high throughput analytical equipment. The department is responsible for the postgraduate training of PhD students, Masters students in Pharmaceutical Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, and for the HEXCO accredited courses of competence in Bioanalytics and in Pharmacometrics. For more information, contact Dr. Roslyn Thelingwani, Department Head (rthelingwani@aiibst.edu.zw)

The Department of Clinical Research and Services has interest and expertise in the conduct of clinical research and clinical trials. The activities in this department include conduct of bioequivalence studies, clinical pharmacokinetic studies and the conduct of Phase to Phase 3 clinical trials. The study aim to test the efficacy and safety of both new and old interventions when use in people of African ancestry. Pharmacogenetic studies therefore make u a major part of the research activities in this department. The Department has a Phase I clinical trial unit which it has used to conduct both contract research clinical studies and the organisation’s on clinical studies. The Phase I Unit has 29 beds and has passed all Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) regulatory inspections that are done before each study is done. The strengthened of the department is enhanced by its close collaboration with the Departments of Therapeutics and the Department of Genomics @ Precision Medicine. For more information, contact Dr. Tinashe Mazhindui, Department Head (tmazhindu@aibst.edu.zw)

The Department of Innovation & Commercialization has interest and expertise in commercializing products and services arising from AiBST research outputs and application of its technology platforms. These products and services include educational products in the form of the accredited courses and degrees, laboratory services in the form of molecular diagnostics tests, Forensic DNA and Toxicology services, clinical trials and drug discovery ADMET services. Because AiBST is strongly anchored in research, innovation and product development, intellectual property (IP) is a key area of expertise and activities in the Department of Business Development. The department is involved in business plan development, marketing, and sales. It therefore works closely with all other departments to manage company IP, engage investor and partners in taking innovations to market.