Biomedical research, a tool to address the health issues that affect African populations

Abstract

Traditionally, biomedical research endeavors in low to middle resources countries have focused on communicable diseases. However, data collected over the past 20 years by the World Health Organization (WHO) show a significant increase in the number of people suffering from non-communicable diseases (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, cancer and pulmonary diseases). Within the coming years, WHO predicts significant decreases in communicable diseases while non-communicable diseases are expected to double in low and middle income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The predicted increase in the non-communicable diseases population could be economically burdensome for the basic healthcare infrastructure of countries that lack resources to address this emerging disease burden. Biomedical research could stimulate development of healthcare and biomedical infrastructure. If this development is sustainable, it provides an opportunity to alleviate the burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases through diagnosis, prevention and treatment. In this paper, we discuss how research using biomedical technology, especially genomics, has produced data that enhances the understanding and treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. We further discuss how scientific development can provide opportunities to pursue research areas responsive to the African populations. We limit our discussion to biomedical research in the areas of genomics due to its substantial impact on the scientific community in recent years however, we also recognize that targeted investments in other scientific disciplines could also foster further development in African countries.

Building local capacity for genomics research in Africa: recommendations from analysis of publications in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2004 to 2013

“…The field of genomics holds great promise for health care and medical research, as the identification of the genetic determinants of disease or other phenotypes will bring about significant improvements in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of several disease conditions ( 3 , 4 ). Genomics is particularly attractive for Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries where new technologies and products from genomics research can help mitigate the heavy burden of infectious and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ( 5 ). In addition, such genomics research should be culturally acceptable to SSA populations ( 6 , 7 ).…”

“…Furthermore, genomics research is likely to be biased toward therapeutic and diagnostic applications for conditions affecting populations in wealthy countries with little or no benefit for most people in low- to middle-income countries ( 3 ). There is, thus, an urgent need to invest in capacity building and infrastructure development and to encourage investments by SSA governments into genomics research ( 5 , 9 – 13 ). Such efforts will lessen dependence on the market-driven research agenda of the developed world for the health needs of low- to middle-income countries ( 3 ).…”

The Development of Computational Biology in South Africa: Successes Achieved and Lessons Learnt

“…Genomic approaches have also been applied to infectious disease control [ 18 ]. South Africa, however, is in the process of epidemiological transition from a major disease burden of infectious to noncommunicable diseases [ 19 , 20 ]. Furthermore, the advent of NGS technologies, their increasing accessibility, and decreasing costs have opened new avenues to understanding genotype–phenotype relationships in noncommunicable human disease [ 20 ], and the high genetic diversity of sub-Saharan African populations positions South Africa to conduct groundbreaking genomics research towards understanding genetic factors underlying human disease [ 21 ].…”

Building capacity for sustainable research programmes for cancer in Africa

“…The limitations surrounding the infrastructure in laboratories and in clinical, pathological and computational research are well known, but a lack of research administration is often overlooked. 18–21 Research administration provides the necessary oversight and coordination of activities within an institute and sets the tone for fiscal responsibility ensuring the appropriate use of research funds. There have been several recent initiatives to address the lack of research administration.…”