From Yobe to the global neuroscience stage, Nigerian scientist Mahmoud Bukar Maina has earned a £120,000 international award for research seeking to better understand Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of memory-related decline.
Maina, who leads the Maina Lab across the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University and Sussex Neuroscience at the University of Sussex in the UK, was named one of the 2026 Vivensa Academy Rising Star Excellence Award recipients.
The award provides £40,000 annually for three years, totalling £120,000, to support ageing-related research and career development.
Maina’s research examines how genetic ancestry influences the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of improving understanding of the disease across diverse populations.
His laboratory uses stem-cell models derived from African donors to investigate neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia.
A major focus of his work is addressing the underrepresentation of African populations in global dementia research.
His team is developing research capacity in Northern Nigeria while maintaining collaborations with researchers in the UK and other international scientific networks.
In 2026, Maina and members of his research group also presented dementia research at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London, including work involving stem-cell lines derived from African centenarians.
The Vivensa Foundation named Maina alongside Dr Claire McDonald as its two 2026 Rising Star award recipients.
His latest recognition highlights the growing contribution of researchers from Northern Nigeria to international neuroscience and efforts to ensure that African genetic diversity is represented in research into Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions.
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