My story is a journey of a girl born into lack, rejection, and limitation—yet carried by divine favor across oceans, into labs, lecture halls, and global stages.

I was born and raised in Uganda by a resilient, single, determined mother, and the youngest of three siblings. I would describe myself as a multi-talented, purpose-driven, and self-motivated woman who believes that with God first, followed by your best work, there is nothing you cannot achieve. That mindset has carried me through a rewarding journey in my life and science career.

I am Grace Nabakooza, professionally, I am passionate about global health security, with a focus on preventing disease at its source. I hold a PhD in Viral Genomics and Bioinformatics from Makerere University, a master’s in bioinformatics from the University of Edinburgh, UK, and a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Mathematics from Makerere University. I have a multifaceted research career, combining over 10 years of expertise in wet laboratory, bioinformatics, infectious disease research, public health, and scientific writing. Since 2022,  I have served with the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, as a Data Manager V/ Bioinformatics Fellow supporting various public health laboratories and teams in data management, quality control, bioinformatics analysis, and scientific publication.

My vision for the future of scientific research goes beyond just publishing papers to creating tangible, innovative, and accessible solutions that improve personal everyday life. And this is why I founded ILLUMINATEDbyGRACE to provide services that equip female professionals in STEM with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate their careers and make empowered, informed decisions. My mission is to empower 5M Christian women 30+ globally, grow in faith, find identity, align to purpose, and maximize potential for value and impact.