Aspro. Zane Lombard

Zane Lombard is a South African human geneticist based at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she is affiliated with the Division of Human Genetics. Her work is closely linked to major continental initiatives such as H3Africa and the AWI-Gen collaboration, advancing genomic research capacity and representation across sub-Saharan Africa.

Her research centers on African genomic diversity, pharmacogenomics, and the genetic architecture of complex traits. She has led influential studies characterizing variation in key pharmacogenes and evaluating polygenic risk prediction in African populations, highlighting gene–environment interplay and the need for ancestry-inclusive genomic tools.

Lombard also contributes to rare disease diagnostics and genomic ethics in resource-constrained settings, promoting feasible sequencing strategies and equitable return of results. Through population genomics, clinical genetics, and collaborative cohort studies, her work strengthens precision medicine frameworks tailored to African populations.