Feven Tigistu-Sahle is a research scientist at the Global One Health initiative (GOHi) Eastern Africa office and a visiting researcher at the Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program of the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Tigistu-Sahle’s specialization in lipidomics-based bioscience research focuses on identifying lipid biomarkers for communicable and non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her research interests include studying the role of lipids as markers of disease susceptibility, progression or therapeutic outcomes in a One Health context.
In her current role at GOHi, Tigistu-Sahle leads various omics-based (genomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, etc.) projects in Eastern Africa and serves as a liaison between the GOHi Eastern Africa office and the Ethiopian Armauer Hanson Research Institute, Kenya Medical Research Institute and the University of Nairobi. She also works to train the next generation of scientists in omics research techniques and expand laboratory capacity equipped with essential omics technologies.
Tigistu-Sahle has a comprehensive background in human physiology and health biotechnology with training in lipid analysis of mammalian cells and bacterial pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
With limited research infrastructure and skilled workforce capacity, Tigistu-Sahle has overcome several challenges on her journey to become a nuanced scientist by winning research grants, leading projects and continuing to publish in international scientific journals.
She was nominated to serve in high-level scientific advisory and reviewing roles, including the advisory council for the Ethiopian Ministry of Science & Higher Education, the National Biotechnology Strategy and L’OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science.
Supporting education is an integral part of Tigistu-Sahle’s life. She helped establish several societies that support students in higher education. Tigistu-Sahle also regularly volunteers in programs that encourage girls and women to study in a STEM field.