Meet the scientist conducting inclusive genetic research to transform healthcare in the Caribbean – Essence

In a world where scientific progress often overlooks diversity, Dr. Carika Weldon stands out as a pioneer determined to revolutionize genetic research in the Caribbean. As the founder and CEO of the company CariGenetics— the first-ever women-founded genomics company based in the Caribbean — Dr. Weldon has spearheaded a movement to be sure that the advantages of precision medicine reach Caribbean communities and the diaspora. Its mission is to fill the gap in health care by tailoring advances to the unique genetic makeup of individuals of Caribbean descent. “The genetic diversity of the Caribbean is a treasure trove of information,” Dr. Weldon explained.

“Our goal at Carigenetics is to understand how our unique genetic makeup influences health outcomes and to use this knowledge to improve the well-being of Caribbean communities.” Founded in 2022, the Bermuda-based company specializes in genomic research to address common health issues in the Caribbean, including sickle cell, breast and prostate cancer. Weldon’s goal is to harness the power of precision medicine, which emphasizes tailoring health care to individual patients based on their unique genetic profiles, lifestyle and other aspects. This approach contrasts with the traditional, one-size-matches-all model, which goals to provide more targeted and effective therapies.

Dr. Weldon explains: “Precision medicine focuses on understanding an individual’s specific needs, which allows us to save time, optimize resources and solve problems faster. This not only leads to better patient outcomes, but also translates into savings for the healthcare system.” One of the most groundbreaking CariGenetic initiatives, the so-called A genome-wide pilot study of breast cancer in the Caribbean, is the first of its kind in the Caribbean. The study focused on understanding the genetic aspects contributing to higher cancer mortality rates in the region. It could pave the way for targeted, personalized therapies that would save countless lives.

This landmark study successfully recruited 102 participants, performed whole-genome sequencing locally, analyzed all 102 samples and started to discover latest genetic trends in breast cancer, marking 4 major milestones for the broader Caribbean community. Dr. Weldon, a Bermuda native, said she founded CariGenetics with the mission of empowering local scientists, reducing dependence on outside labs and constructing trust in the community for genetic testing. “The first problem, therefore, is that all the medicines currently on the market have been designed based on European genetic data covering only 15% of the world’s population. This means that 85% of the world, including us in the Caribbean, has no access to medicines,” she added.

The second point she explained is the history of exploitation and misuse of Black people in the name of science. For example, in the Tuskegee Experiment, which began in 1932, black men were secretly denied treatment for syphilis in order to monitor the progression of the disease. They “died, went blind, went mad, or experienced other serious health problems” due to the untreated disease. Similarly, in 1951, Henrietta Lacks’ cells were collected without her consent, which contributed to quite a few breakthroughs in medicine, including methods of treating cancer. However, her contributions weren’t appreciated during her lifetime.

These abuses have deepened long-standing deep mistrust between Black communities and the medical community, underscoring the urgent need for ethical reforms and inclusive research practices. “A history of abuse, like that of Henrietta Lacks and Tuskegee, has led to a lack of trust. If we had more black scientists and doctors, we could prevent such injustices,” Dr. Weldon said.

CariGenetics goals to increase the representation of individuals of African descent in genetic research by specializing in the wealthy genetic diversity of the Black Caribbean population. The organization also strives to empower local Black scientists and community members to actively participate in this work. Addressing the historical distrust resulting from the unethical treatment of Black communities in science, CariGenetics is working to change this narrative and rebuild trust through inclusive and ethical research practices.

This focus began with Dr. Weldon’s journey from emerging neuroscientist to CEO of CariGenetics. Dr. Weldon stated that from an early age she was fascinated by the intricacies of the human brain. She initially dreamed of becoming a neuroscientist, but her passion ultimately led her in a special direction. Dr. Weldon’s path took a decisive turn when she pursued a level in medical biochemistry in the UK, where she faced setbacks, including rejection from Oxford University. But her determination never wavered. She obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, fueled by a deep curiosity about the “why” behind medical testing and genetic mechanisms, laying the foundation for her future work.

The turning point got here when Dr. Weldon learned of Iceland’s pioneering efforts in population genetics. Iceland’s success in sequencing the genetic material of its population inspired it to ask: “Why cannot we do something like this in Bermuda and the Caribbean? “We are genetically diverse and can provide unique insights,” shared Dr. Weldon with ESSENCE. This spark of inspiration later guided her scientific work and fueled her vision for CariGenetics.

This spark of inspiration later guided her work as a researcher at Oxford, where a groundbreaking study on African genetic material was published in 2019 found that individuals of African descent had 10% more genetic variability than the standard human reference genome, which was mainly Eurocentric. This highlighted the urgent need for more inclusive genetic testing.

Dr. Weldon’s commitment to the Caribbean region deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic when she returned to Bermuda to lead research efforts in the country as a scientific advisor to the Prime Minister and Laboratory Director of the Government COVID-19 Laboratory.

Her experience highlighted glaring gaps in the scientific infrastructure in the Caribbean, further fueling her desire to bring cutting-edge genomic research home. “With the pandemic, I noticed that we’d like more scientists and genetic research in the Caribbean. We were to this point behind that we had to send samples to one lab in Trinidad for the entire region. I wanted to create something sustainable, so I founded CariGenetics to give attention to the genetic makeup of the Caribbean,” he says

One of CariGenetics’ most progressive approaches involves the use of bio-NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to provide participants with ownership of their genetic data. This cutting-edge technology gives individuals control over their information and the ability to monetize it.

Dr. Weldon is prepared to make a difference through her work at CariGenetics. Her immediate goal is to expand research beyond the initial breast cancer study to include prostate cancer and expand that research to the Caribbean. By identifying latest genetic markers related to breast cancer and other cancers common in Caribbean populations, Dr. Weldon goals to facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

Her vision is to use these discoveries to tailor medical therapies specifically for Caribbean communities. This approach reflects successful models akin to a recent study in England that identified a novel genetic mutation in the local population, leading to the development of targeted screening protocols. Dr. Weldon wants to replicate this model in the Caribbean by improving preventive care and treatment. The initiative also goals to expand its reach, with plans to establish partnerships and conduct research in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Saint Lucia, in addition to other Caribbean countries.

The goal of this expansion is to construct a sturdy network of clinicians and researchers dedicated to improving health care outcomes for the Caribbean population. “Genetic testing may also help us move away from a one-size-matches-all approach to medicine, but we also need to engage and construct trust in our communities. That’s what CariGenetics is for,” Dr. Weldon said.