Award puts Africa diabetes under the microscope

Institute researcher collaborates with African-led diabetes project

Georgina Murphy, Genome Research Limited

The £2.6 million grant award from the Human Hereditary and Health in Africa Consortium (funded by the Wellcome Trust and National Institutes of Health) will enable research teams in Africa, the USA and UK to investigate the genomics and epidemiology of the rising tide of diabetes across sub-Saharan Africa.

On Monday 8 October 2012, the Wellcome Trust and National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced much-needed funding for diabetes research in Africa. The £2.6 million award, part of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Consortium, will be used by a network of research teams in seven African countries. Led by Professor Albert Amoah in Ghana, the groups will investigate the burden and genetic basis of the rising tide of diabetes across the sub-Saharan region. Additional expertise and resources will be provided by teams led by Dr Manj Sandhu at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, UK, and Professor Charles Rotimi at the Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute.

“More than 12 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are believed to have diabetes, and it is predicted that this number will double within just 20 years. It is vital that we set up a sustainable partnership of researchers across Africa with different research skills and resources to be able to tackle this growing health problem. This award will to help improve the health of Africans through the study of genomics and environmental determinants of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, but also train and support the next generation of research leaders in Africa.”

Professor Albert Amoah Principal investigator at the National Diabetes Management and Research Centre, University of Ghana

The funding grant for diabetes research is part of a wider initiative to develop African scientists, foster increased collaboration among African investigators and enhance the infrastructure for genomics research in Africa. It will also contribute to the training of the next generation of African researchers in the use of contemporary genomic approaches in the study of important health problems. The NIH has committed $25 million of grant support over five years, contingent on the availability of funds, and Wellcome Trust has committed $12 million over five years.

“The H3Africa initiative aims to transform the way science is conducted in Africa by creating a sustainable research infrastructure and catalyzing the use of advanced genomic technologies to improve our understanding of a variety of diseases. This is particularly relevant because, in this era of expanded global travel and communication, it is becoming increasingly clear that we must think beyond our borders when it comes to understanding human biology and improving health.”

NIH Director Francis S. Collins M.D., Ph.D.

“If we are to help tackle the growing burden of disease in Africa, it is important that we build capacity within the continent for African researchers and their institutions in order to understand the genetic and environmental causes of illness. The geographical breadth of participating institutions shows that H3Africa is about doing just this, enabling the scientists themselves to drive forward the African research agenda.”

Sir Mark Walport Director of the Wellcome Trust

The Sanger Institute will be collaborating with the network of diabetes researchers by providing DNA sequencing capacity and analysis expertise and tools to enable indepth genomic and epidemiological investigations. Dr Manj Sandhu will be coordinating the Institute’s involvement.

“I am delighted that the Wellcome Trust and NIH are funding such an ambitious and visionary project, and that we can be of help with the work. My team and I are excited that we will be able to apply our genetic and epidemiological techniques to identify the causes of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa and, we hope, help to inform future health strategies in the region.”

Dr Manj Sandhu Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

“H3Africa is certain to have profound and lasting effects on the landscape of genomics research in Africa. This resource will enable African researchers to study African populations, to solve African problems and to train the next generation of African scientists.”

Professor Charles Rotimi Director of the Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute