The Team behind ACRN.
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Tariro Makadzange is a medical social entrepreneur, infectious disease physician, and expert in viral immunology. She earned her MD from Harvard Medical School and a DPhil (PhD) from Oxford University (Balliol College). Her career spans public healthcare in Zimbabwe, global health research between Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Zimbabwe, and clinical development in the pharmaceutical industry-from first-in-human biologics to late-phase small molecule trials. She has conducted research in viral immunology and vaccine immunogen design. As the founder of CRMG and Mutala Trust, she has led efforts to diversify clinical trials, advance immunogenetics research in African populations, and drive public health innovation. Now, as the CEO of ACRN, Dr. Makadzange is building a pan-African clinical research ecosystem with her team that aims to deliver globally competitive, high-quality trials while tackling Africa’s most pressing health challenges. She also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Stanford University and a Faculty Fellow at the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health.
Chief Of Staff
Dr. Romina Mariano is an accomplished clinician and researcher specializing in clinical research, health policy, and strategy. She has led vaccine effectiveness studies across Africa, global disease prevention campaigns, and international health initiatives. As a consultant for the Ellison Institute of Technology, she focuses on the future of clinical trials. A Rhodes Scholar with a DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences (Oxon) and an MBBCh (Wits), Romina is committed to equitable clinical research and strengthening Africa’s health systems.
Chief Operations Officer
James Gregory has extensive experience in operational and financial management, specialising in transformative change within complex systems. He holds postgraduate qualifications in Accounting and Law, and has an MBA in Leadership and Quantitative Analysis. With a background in senior C-suite roles, he has successfully led diverse teams through turnarounds, strategic acquisitions, and improvements in the healthcare, logistics, and non-profit sectors. His leadership style focuses on fairness, collaboration, and empowerment to inspire exceptional performance and create lasting impact.
Alliance and Partnership Director
Dr. Wilfred Gurupira is a leading senior public health specialist and researcher with nearly two decades of experience in public health and NIH-funded clinical research in Zimbabwe. As a systems thinker and implementation practitioner, Wilfred excels at finding innovative solutions, implementing strategies, and measuring the impact of interventions. He thrives in collaborative environments and enjoys working with pragmatic and creative people and teams that value genuine engagement and embrace complexity.
Laboratory Director
Gary Luke is a highly experienced scientist with over 25 years as a laboratory director, specialising in ISO 15189:2012 and CAP accreditation. His work across South Africa, the Middle East, and Europe gives him a global perspective on African research laboratories. Gary excels in optimising workflows, implementing quality systems, and building strong teams which support reliable results. His dedication to capacity building and innovation makes him essential to the ACRN team, fostering the development of laboratories for world-class clinical research in Africa.
Medical Director ACRN in Rwanda
Dr. Roger Bayingana Dr. Roger Bayingana is the Medical Director of ACRN in Rwanda, where he leads clinical research initiatives and oversees protocol development and regulatory processes. He supports research partners in building capacity to strengthen Rwanda's research ecosystem. With a Master's degree in Public Health Research Methodologies from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Dr. Roger has over 23 years of experience in clinical practice, research, and health consulting. He has contributed to numerous clinical trials and assisted the Ministry of Health in developing strategic and policy documents. A strong advocate for multisectoral cooperation in health, Dr. Roger promotes integrated approaches to addressing complex health challenges, particularly in research.
Chief Technology Officer
Wayne Janneker is a seasoned IT executive with over 24 years of experience in digital transformation within healthcare and corporate sectors. With 20 years in senior leadership, he has built high-performing IT operations and crafted strategic blueprints for Telemedicine, IoT, AI, and Big Data solutions. Wayne has served as a technical advisor to South Africa's health departments and led complex IT programs for global health initiatives, including the Electronic Vaccine Distribution System (EVDS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. His focus on enhancing user experience and driving eHealth innovations highlights his commitment to impactful technology solutions.