Up to 300 African scientists are converging on Accra tomorrow(September 23) to map out progress of a multi-million, multi-country and multi-year genomic research programme to increase the understanding of how human genes and the environment are contributing to Africa’s increased susceptibility to diseases.
The scientists, who are members of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) consortium, a major genomics research programme established in 2010 by the African Society of Human Genetics, Well come Trust and the National Institutes of Health, have made significant progress in using genetic, clinical and epidemiological tools to identify individuals and populations who are at risk of developing specific diseases.
The hope is to contribute to efforts to reduce Africa’s high disease burden, which stands at 25 percent of the global figures, according to the World Bank.
The scientists will be presenting their findings at the 14th H3Africa Consortium meeting taking place in Accra from tomorrow till the 27th of September, 2019.
