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Africa establishes groundbreaking bioinformatics institute to expand genomic research

27 Oct 2024

At a glance

  • The African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI) will revolutionise genomics research across Africa. This will provide resources for the continent to respond faster to disease threats and tailor medical treatments to local populations.

  • With much of the genomic research having focused on the genome of European samples, the initiative is set to enrich available knowledge of genomics and address specific health concerns within the African continent.

  • It has received £5.2 million in funding from the London-based charitable foundation Wellcome, and an additional £1.2 million from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, in order to develop research customised to Africa’s unique biodiversity and health challenges.


What is happening in Africa?

This month, the newly established African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI) received funding, marking a significant leap forward for Africa’s role in global genomics research. Genomics is the study of an organism’s complete set of DNA, which contains the instructions that enable the organism to develop, grow, and function. By studying the genome, scientists can identify variations in DNA that may influence the risk of developing diseases, and even how a person might respond to certain medications.


However, genomics research has traditionally relied heavily on institutions in the Global North. Subsequently, existing tools were designed for European genomes and research into the genetic data of African populations has been limited, leaving African people more vulnerable to preventable illnesses due to the lack of tailored medical insights. Currently, less than 3% of genomic datasets come from African populations, despite their extensive genetic diversity.


The ABI, a non-profit initiative, seeks to change this by creating sustainable research infrastructure in Africa, empowering the continent to lead genomic research and address pressing health concerns in the region such as cancer, heart disease, and more recently, mpox (previously known as monkeypox). It has received £5.2 million in funding from the London-based charitable foundation Wellcome, and an additional £1.2 million from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. It follows successful African-led genomic research efforts such as Senegal’s SEN-GENOME project, which is mapping Senegal’s genetic diversity across 14 regions in the country.


The ABI will be a central hub for bioinformatics, facilitating research across various sectors of life sciences, including genomic medicine, pathogen genomics, and biodiversity. Its fundamental goal is to provide Africa with the equipment and expertise needed to conduct research independently and sustainably, with benefits extending to human health, biodiversity preservation, and disease management.


Nicola Mulder, Professor and Head of the Computational Biology division at the University of Cape Town, emphasised the growing need for a pan-African facility. "With many data-intensive projects blossoming on the continent, it is timely to develop a facility that can support the enormous demand for bioinformatics training and support,” she explained. The ABI will build upon the work of existing bioinformatics communities, such as The Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative, to provide a more comprehensive and integrated approach to bioinformatics research in Africa.


What is in it for you?

The ABI’s creation has far-reaching implications for both the African continent and the global scientific community. For African nations, the ABI will be a critical asset in improving health outcomes by providing the infrastructure and skills to sequence and analyse pathogens, enabling more effective responses to disease outbreaks. It also has the potential to drive innovation in personalised medicine by using patients’ genetic information to develop treatments more accurately. Projects, such as SEN-GENOME, have already illustrated the potential of local initiatives, with Senegal on the verge of publishing its reference genome, creating a foundation for medicine tailored to Africa's unique genetic diversity.


For readers in Europe and North America, the ABI opens up opportunities for collaborative projects and data sharing that could lead to significant breakthroughs in global health. The institute’s focus on African biodiversity and health challenges, ranging from cancer to emerging infectious diseases, will enrich global genomic datasets and create more inclusive and representative scientific research.


Ultimately, the ABI is not just set to advance genomics in Africa - but has the potential to advance genomics for the world. Its establishment could signal a turning point in how we understand genetics, health, and disease, creating the conditions for scientific discoveries that will have lasting impacts on global health.


What happens next?

The establishment of the ABI is a critical first step, but its success will depend on how effectively it can scale up and integrate with ongoing research efforts across the continent. The immediate focus will be on engaging stakeholders across Africa to identify the best locations for its regional hubs and to ensure it addresses the most pressing needs in bioinformatics and genomics research.


One of the key milestones in the coming months will be the online information session on 31 October 2024, which will serve as a platform for bioinformatics experts and stakeholders to learn more about ABI's mission and offer input. Following this, the ABI will begin formally collaborating with research institutions, governments, and the private sector to build its infrastructure, develop training programs, and establish data-sharing platforms.


Drawing from local initiatives, such as the SEN-GENOME project, the ABI will focus on streamlining bioinformatics research in key areas of genomic study. It will aim to drive forward innovations that address Africa-specific health and environmental challenges, while also contributing to the global genomics field by diversifying the data used in research.


In the longer term, the ABI will need to secure additional funding and partnerships to ensure its sustainability. If successful, the institute could play a transformative role in improving health outcomes, protecting biodiversity, and advancing scientific knowledge on a global scale, placing Africa at the forefront of genomics research.


The Polis Team in Exeter

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