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

In a world where scientific advances have often overlooked diversity, Dr. Carika Weldon stands out as a pioneer, determined to revolutionize genetic research for the Caribbean. As the founder and CEO of CariGenetics, the first-ever female-founded genomics company based in the Caribbean, Dr. Weldon has positioned herself at the forefront of a movement that seeks to ensure that the benefits of precision medicine reach Caribbean communities and the diaspora. Her mission is to bridge the healthcare gap by tailoring advances to the unique genetic makeup of people of Caribbean descent. “The genetic diversity of the Caribbean is a treasure trove of information,” explained Dr. Weldon.

“Our goal with Carigenetics is to understand how our unique genetic makeup influences health outcomes and use that 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 disease, breast and prostate cancer. Weldon’s goal is to harness the power of precision medicine, which focuses on tailoring healthcare specifically to each patient based on their unique genetic profile, lifestyle and other factors. This approach contrasts with the traditional one-size-fits-all model, aiming to provide more targeted and effective treatments.

Dr. Weldon explains, “Precision medicine focuses on understanding the specific needs of each individual, which allows us to save time, optimize resources, and solve problems faster. This not only leads to better outcomes for patients, but also translates into savings for the healthcare system.” One of CariGenetic’s most innovative initiatives, the Caribbean Breast Cancer Whole Genome Pilot Study, is the first of its kind in the Caribbean. The study focused on understanding the genetic factors contributing to the region’s higher cancer mortality rates. It is poised to pave the way for targeted, personalized treatments that could save countless lives.

The landmark study successfully recruited 102 participants, completed the local genome sequencing, analysed all 102 samples and began to identify new genetic trends in breast cancer, marking four major milestones for the wider Caribbean community. Dr Weldon, who is originally from Bermuda, said she founded CariGenetics with the mission of empowering local scientists, reducing reliance on external laboratories and building community trust in genetic research. “The first problem is that all the drugs currently on the market have been designed based on European genetic data, which represents only 15% of the world’s population. This means that 85% of the world’s population, including us in the Caribbean, are missing out on drugs,” she explained.

The second issue she discussed is how Black people have been used and misused 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 observe the progression of the disease. They “died, went blind or insane, or suffered other serious health problems” because of the untreated disease. Similarly, in 1951, Henrietta Lacks’ cells were harvested without her consent and were instrumental in the development of many medical advances, including cancer treatments. Yet her contributions were not recognized during her lifetime.

These abuses have fueled a deep and long-standing mistrust between Black communities and the medical community, underscoring the urgent need for ethical reforms and inclusive research practices. “The history of abuse, such as Henrietta Lacks and Tuskegee, has created a lack of trust. If we had more Black scientists and doctors, we could have avoided such injustices,” Dr. Weldon said.

CariGenetics aims to increase the representation of people of African descent in genetic research by focusing on the rich genetic diversity of Black Caribbean populations. The organization is also committed to empowering local Black scientists and community members to actively participate in this work. By addressing the historical mistrust stemming from the unethical treatment of Black communities in science, CariGenetics works to change this narrative and rebuild trust through inclusive and ethical research practices.

That direction began with Dr. Weldon’s journey from aspiring neuroscientist to CEO of CariGenetics. From a young age, Dr. Weldon said 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 different direction. Dr. Weldon’s journey took a decisive turn when she studied medical biochemistry in the United Kingdom, where she faced setbacks, including being rejected by the University of Oxford. But her determination never wavered. She earned a PhD in biochemistry, driven by a deep curiosity about the “whys” of medical testing and genetic mechanisms, laying the foundation for her future work.

Dr. Weldon became aware of Iceland’s pioneering efforts in population genetics. Iceland’s success in sequencing its population’s genetic material prompted her to ask, “Why can’t we do something similar in Bermuda and the Caribbean?” “We are genetically diverse and could bring unique insights,” Dr. Weldon told ESSENCE. That spark of inspiration would later guide her work as a research scientist and fuel her vision for CariGenetics.

This spark of inspiration would later guide her work as a research scientist at Oxford, where a groundbreaking 2019 study of African genetic material found that people of African descent had 10% more genetic variation than the standard human reference genome, which was predominantly Eurocentric. This highlighted the urgent need for more inclusive genetic research.

Dr. Weldon’s dedication to the Caribbean region was strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic when she returned to Bermuda to lead the country’s testing efforts as the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisor and Director of the Government’s COVID-19 Laboratory.

Her experience highlighted the glaring gaps in scientific infrastructure in the Caribbean, which further fueled her desire to bring cutting-edge genomics research back to her country. “With the pandemic, I realized we needed more scientists and genetic research in the Caribbean. We were so far behind that we had to send samples to a single lab in Trinidad for the entire region. I wanted to create something sustainable, so I founded CariGenetics to focus on the genetic makeup of the Caribbean people,” she said.

One of CariGenetics’ most innovative approaches is to use bio-NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) to ensure that participants own their genetic data. This cutting-edge technology gives individuals control over their information and allows them to monetize it.

Dr. Weldon is poised to drive transformative change through her work with CariGenetics. Her immediate goal is to expand the research beyond the initial breast cancer study to include prostate cancer and to extend this research to the Caribbean. By identifying new genetic markers associated with breast cancer and other prevalent cancers in Caribbean populations, Dr. Weldon aims to facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnoses.

His vision is to harness these findings to tailor medical treatments specifically to Caribbean communities. This approach mirrors successful models, such as a recent study in England that identified a unique genetic mutation in a local population, leading to targeted screening protocols. Dr. Weldon aspires to replicate this model throughout the Caribbean, improving preventative care and treatment. The initiative is also expected to expand its reach, with plans to build partnerships and conduct research in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St. Lucia, among other Caribbean countries.

This expansion aims to create a strong network of clinicians and researchers dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes for Caribbean populations. “Genetic research can help us move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to medicine, but we also need to engage and build trust in our communities. That’s what CariGenectics is all about,” said Dr. Weldon.