Advancing public health genomics in Africa through prospective cohort studies

Human genomic studies have revolutionised science in high-income countries through large cohort studies (on the order of 100,000+ participants) which examine a multitude of risk factors. Yet Africa, with the most genetically diverse population in the world, large burdens of communicable and non-comm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2010-07, Vol.64 (7), p.585-586
Main Authors: Dalal, S, Holmes, M D, Ramesar, R S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Capacity development
chronic
Cohort studies
Collaboration
Developing countries
Disease
Disease risk
Economic growth
Epidemiology
Genealogy
General aspects
genetic epidem
Genetics
Genomes
Genomics
Health risk assessment
Human genetics
Humans
LDCs
Medical genetics
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Molecular Epidemiology
non-communicable
Organizational Innovation
Outdoor air quality
Population genetics
Predisposing factors
Prospective Studies
Public health
Public Health - methods
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
R&D
Research & development
Research agenda
Risk factors
Studies
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Summary:Human genomic studies have revolutionised science in high-income countries through large cohort studies (on the order of 100,000+ participants) which examine a multitude of risk factors. Yet Africa, with the most genetically diverse population in the world, large burdens of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and unique environments and risk factors, has no such large studies which comprehensively examine multiple interacting risk factors for disease. We argue that establishing such studies is overdue. Scientific discoveries from large cohort studies can drive innovation, foster training and local capacity building, and provide vital evidence for public health decision making. Furthermore, evidence from studies in Africa could provide insights to disease processes relevant to other populations around the globe. The enormous potential for genetic and epidemiologic discovery in Africa should not continue to go untapped. Combining powerful genomic tools with epidemiology through large cohort studies could dramatically advance public health in Africa.
ISSN:0143-005X
1470-2738
DOI:10.1136/jech.2009.090308