A Nigerian healthcare, life sciences, and medical AI writer, Oladimeji Ewumi took center stage at the European Alliance for Personalized Medicine (EAPM) seminar that examined how personalized medicine can improve cancer diagnosis and treatment across regions, particularly in Africa.
The virtual seminar, titled: “Determining a Path for Optimal Integration of Access & Diagnostics for All & Public Health Genomics,” was held on May 24, 2022, and brought together policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates from Europe and Africa.
Hosted by EAPM in Brussels, the event focused on the opportunities and challenges of integrating personalized medicine into health systems, building on a 2021 index that evaluates access to diagnostics and genomics.
The organization has long advocated for regulatory reform across the European Union to enable earlier patient access to personalized therapies and to strengthen research and innovation.
Speaking alongside leaders such as Cancer Alliance CEO Salome Meyer, Prof. Collet Dandara of the University of Cape Town, and experts from the South African Medical Research Council, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, and ICGEB, Ewumi brought an African-centered perspective to the discussion.
His contribution focused on the structural and policy barriers limiting equitable cancer care across the continent, including late diagnosis, limited access, weak research infrastructure, and challenges in conducting well-powered oncology clinical trials.
Drawing from his presentation, Ewumi emphasized that Africa faces a disproportionate cancer burden, with approximately one million new cases annually and projections of a 70% increase by 2030.
Late-stage diagnosis remains common, contributing to poor outcomes, compounded by shortages of oncologists, limited diagnostic facilities, and high treatment costs. He argued that these challenges demand a shift away from “one-size-fits-all” approaches toward personalized, molecularly guided care tailored to African populations.
Ewumi outlined a practical framework for action, highlighting the roles of governance, clinical standardization, and demand-side awareness, alongside equitable reimbursement, testing infrastructure, and evidence generation on the supply side.
He pointed to opportunities for governments to leverage Africa’s expanding telecommunications sector to improve cancer awareness and patient education, while calling for investment in diagnostic infrastructure and genomics research to support precision oncology.
Ewumi also emphasized the importance of strengthening diagnostic and research infrastructure as a foundation for equitable cancer care.
He called for the establishment of testing and treatment facilities across local governments, alongside investment in modern diagnostic equipment and workforce training to enable timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Emphasizing that evidence generation is critical, he noted that limited recruitment of African populations into clinical trials has left key gaps in understanding cancer biology on the continent.
Addressing these gaps, he argued, would allow the development of population-specific treatment protocols and support the earlier use of personalized therapies —matching the right patient with the proper treatment from the outset to improve outcomes and quality of life.
The panel discussion ultimately led to the publication of the research paper “Fighting Cancer around the World: A Framework for Action,” released in October 2022, which captured the policy insights and recommendations emerging from the forum.
In his closing remarks, Ewumi underscored the urgency of translating discussion into action, stating, “The time is right to implement personalized molecular medicine for all patients with cancer in Africa and the world.”
By bridging policy, research, and real-world health system challenges, Ewumi’s contribution reinforced the growing consensus that personalized medicine is no longer aspirational but essential for improving cancer outcomes globally.