Mendi Muthinja
Dr. Mendi Muthinja is a pioneering Kenyan genomic scientist and the Founder of Huntington Disease (HD) Africa, the continent’s first organization dedicated to awareness, research, and advocacy around Huntington’s Disease, a rare, inherited neurodegenerative condition. Her journey into this highly specialized space is deeply personal: after a close family member was diagnosed with HD, she made the life-altering decision to pivot her scientific career toward understanding the disease and improving the lives of those affected by it.
Through HD Africa, she has led efforts to educate healthcare workers, engage policy makers, and bring visibility to families living with the burden of HD, many of whom have suffered in silence due to stigma, lack of resources, or misclassification of symptoms. As a genomic scientist, she also contributes to ongoing research on genetic patterns and early diagnosis in African populations, seeking to close the global knowledge gap on HD as it manifests on the continent.
Dr. Mendi’s work is reshaping both the scientific and human narrative around rare diseases in Africa. By combining personal experience, technical expertise, and a powerful advocacy platform, she continues to push for earlier diagnosis, better care systems, and long-term support structures for families affected by Huntington’s.