Kumeren Govender is the Chief Scientific Officer for the Ellison Institute of Technology for the Pathogen Programme. In his role, he is responsible for driving scientific innovation and strategy, overseeing scientific research and product development, and developing collaborations with partners globally.
Kumeren previously founded Mable, a pioneering personalised migraine startup. He has raised >$3.2M for this venture which was part of the prestigious Y-combinator and was successfully acquired by a major US firm in April 2023. Mable utilises virtual doctor consultations and a mailed genetic test to prescribe the most suitable medication with minimal side effects, all from the comfort of your home.
Kumeren graduated as a Rhodes Scholar from the University of Oxford and read for a DPhil (PhD) in Clinical Medicine focusing on improving diagnostics for infectious diseases using an approach called “metagenomics”. This novel approach uses sequencing-based technology to identify all nucleic acid within a clinical sample, providing deeper insights for patient care, public health and biosecurity applications. Previously, he qualified as a medical doctor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa and has practised medicine in urban and rural settings.
Outside of work, Kumeren enjoys Marathon running, playing the violin and is learning to fly planes.