Infrastructure for bioinformatics applications in Tanzania: Lessons from the Sickle Cell Programme

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common genetic disorder in Africa. Some ongoing work in SCD research includes the analysis and comparisons of variation in phenotypic presentations and disease outcomes with the genotypic signatures. This has contributed to the observed growth of molecular and genetic data in SCD. However, while the “omics” data continues to pile, the capacity to interpret and turn the genetic findings into clinical practice is still underdeveloped, especially in the developing region. Building bioinformatics infrastructure and capacity in the region is key to bridging the gap. This paper seeks to illustrate how the Sickle Cell Programme (SCP) at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania, modeled the integration of infrastructure for bioinformatics and clinical research while running day-to-day clinical care for SCD in Tanzania.