Profile-picture-790x1024 Leadership

Our founder & CEO

Dr. Jean Michel Kayumba, MD, MPH

Chief Executive Officer & Chief Scientific Officer

A Visionary Leader Bridging Worlds

Dr. Jean Michel Kayumba is a medical doctor and researcher with a strong focus on natural products and public health. He leads YAKADA HEALTH Inc., where he develops innovative treatments for metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity by combining traditional medicine with modern science.

His main areas of expertise include:

  • Discovering and studying plant-based compounds

  • Developing anti-diabetic and anti-obesity drugs

  • Validating traditional remedies through scientific research

  • Applying natural treatments in clinical settings

  • Shaping public health policies

  • Leading diverse research teams

Since founding YAKADA HEALTH in 2018, Dr. Kayumba has guided the development of YKD-001, a promising dual-action therapy for diabetes and obesity. He has secured patents, formed academic partnerships, and previously worked as a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Kinshasa. He also directed a tuberculosis prevention program with Croix-Rouge in Canada.

He is internationally recognized for creating an ethical framework that integrates traditional knowledge into scientific research. Dr. Kayumba is also committed to mentoring young scientists, particularly minorities in STEM, and has published widely in health and natural product research journals. He is a member of the South African Health Professions Council and the World Health Council.

YAKADA HEALTH Inc. | CEO & Chief Scientific Officer (2018-Present)

  • Founded biotechnology company specializing in traditional medicine validation
  • Discovered and developed YKD-001 through preclinical validation
  • Secured provisional patent protection and established robust IP portfolio
  • Built strategic partnerships with academic institutions and clinical centers
  • Led natural products drug discovery programs
  • Managed multidisciplinary research teams
  • Published research in peer-reviewed journals
  • Coordinated tuberculosis prevention programs for Inuit communities
  • Demonstrated cultural sensitivity in healthcare delivery
  • Achieved measurable health improvements in underserved populations
  • Developed evidence-based health interventions for vulnerable populations
  • Specialized in culturally appropriate healthcare solutions

Scientific Achievements

Breakthrough Discovery YKD-001 Development (2018-2024)

  • Identified world's first dual-action anti-diabetic/anti-obesity therapeutic from Solanum aethiopicum
  • Developed enhanced formulations 38-65x more potent than natural extracts
  • Established novel mechanisms targeting metabolic dysfunction
  • Secured intellectual property protection as primary inventor

Professional Leadership

  • International Affiliations: South African Health Professions Council, World Health Council
  • Conference Speaking: Regular presentations at international medical and pharmaceutical conferences
  • Advisory Roles: Building world-class international advisory board
  • Thought Leadership: Recognized expert in ethical traditional medicine validation

Core Competencies

Research & Development

  • Phytochemical isolation and characterization
  • Anti-diabetic and anti-obesity drug discovery
  • Traditional medicine validation methodologies
  • Clinical translation of natural therapeutics

Leadership & Management

  • Biotechnology company foundation and scaling
  • Multidisciplinary team leadership
  • International partnership development
  • Cross-cultural communication and collaboration

Ethical Innovation

  • Traditional knowledge rights protection
  • Community benefit-sharing frameworks
  • Sustainable commercialization models
  • Cultural sensitivity in pharmaceutical development

Global Health Expertise

  • Public health policy analysis and implementation
  • Healthcare delivery in underserved populations
  • Evidence-based intervention development
  • Health equity advocacy

Personal Mission

A Commitment to Justice and Healing

Dr. Kayumba’s career reflects a deeply personal commitment to health equity and cultural respect. His journey from medical training in Kinshasa to leading a Canadian biotechnology company demonstrates the power of combining scientific rigor with cultural wisdom.

Key Principles:
  • Cultural respect: Honoring the communities that preserved traditional knowledge
  • Scientific excellence: Applying rigorous methodology to traditional medicine validation
  • Global equity: Making innovative therapeutics accessible to all populations
  • Ethical leadership: Pioneering frameworks for respectful pharmaceutical development
  • Community partnership: Ensuring sustainable benefits for traditional medicine communities
  • Cross-Cultural Expertise: Extensive experience across African, North American, and European contexts

A Commitment to Justice and Healing

Under Dr. Kayumba’s leadership, YAKADA HEALTH Inc. is establishing new paradigms for how traditional medicine can be respectfully validated and brought to global markets. His vision extends beyond commercial success to creating lasting change in how the pharmaceutical industry approaches indigenous knowledge systems.

Strategic Initiatives:
  • Clinical excellence: Leading YKD-001 toward Phase I clinical trials
  • Global partnerships: Building international collaborations for traditional medicine validation
  • Ethical frameworks: Developing industry standards for respectful pharmaceutical development
  • Educational impact: Training next generation of culturally competent researchers
  • Policy influence: Advocating for traditional medicine recognition in regulatory frameworks

Personal commitment

Dr. Kayumba’s leadership ensures that YAKADA HEALTH’s groundbreaking work serves as a model for how traditional medicine can be respectfully validated and brought to global markets, creating benefits for patients worldwide while honoring the communities that developed these therapeutic approaches over centuries.
“Our success will be measured not just by the lives we save, but by the communities we empower and the cultural heritage we preserve.”

Advisory Board

Building Global Excellence

Dr. Kayumba is assembling an international advisory board of world-class researchers, clinicians, and thought leaders who share our commitment to ethical traditional medicine validation. This diverse group provides strategic guidance across:
  • Scientific Research: Leading experts in diabetes, obesity, and natural products
  • Clinical Development: Experienced principal investigators and regulatory specialists
  • Cultural Competency: Scholars in postcolonial studies and indigenous knowledge systems
  • Business Strategy: Successful entrepreneurs and pharmaceutical executives
  • Global Health: Public health leaders and policy experts
Advisory board member profiles and expertise areas will be featured as appointments are finalized.

Join our team

Opportunities for Impact

YAKADA HEALTH is growing rapidly and seeking talented individuals who share our mission of transforming global health through ethical innovation. We offer:
  • Research Positions: Opportunities for scientists and researchers passionate about traditional medicine
  • Clinical Roles: Positions for medical professionals interested in novel therapeutic development
  • Business Development: Roles for professionals skilled in pharmaceutical partnerships and commercialization
  • Cultural Expertise: Positions for specialists in traditional knowledge systems and community engagement
Current openings and application information available on our careers page.
Contact Our Team