Development of Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Genomics Research:
- Authors: Mulder, Nicola J , Adebiyi, Ezekiel , Adebiyi, Marion , Adeyemi, Seun , Ahmed, Azza , Ahmed, Rehab , Akanle, Bola , Alibi, Mohamed , Armstrong, Don L , Aron, Shaun , Ashano, Efejiro , Baichoo, Shakuntala , Benkahla, Alia , Brown, David K , Chimusa, Emile Rugamika , Fadlelmola, Faisal M , Falola, Dare , Fatumo, Segun , Ghedira, Kais , Ghouila, Amel , Hazelhurst, Scott , Itunuoluwa Isewon , Segun Jung , Kassim, Samar Kamal , Kayondo, Jonathan K , Mbiyavanga, Mamana , Meintjes, Ayton , Mohammed, Somia , Mosaku, Abayomi , Moussa, Ahmed , Muhammd, Mustafa , Mungloo-Dilmohamud, Zahra , Nashiru, Oyekanmi , Odia, Trust , Okafor, Adaobi , Oladipo, Olaleye , Osamor, Victor , Oyelade, Jellili , Sadki, Khalid , Salifu, Samson Pandam , Soyemi, Jumoke , Panji, Sumir , Radouani, Fouzia , Souiai, Oussama , Tastan Bishop, Özlem
- Date: 2017
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148239 , vital:38722 , DOI: 10.1016/j.gheart.2017.01.005
- Description: Although pockets of bioinformatics excellence have developed in Africa, generally, large-scale genomic data analysis has been limited by the availability of expertise and infrastructure. H3ABioNet, a pan-African bioinformatics network, was established to build capacity specifically to enable H3Africa (Human Heredity and Health in Africa) researchers to analyze their data in Africa. Since the inception of the H3Africa initiative, H3ABioNet's role has evolved in response to changing needs from the consortium and the African bioinformatics community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The development of computational biology in South Africa: successes achieved and lessons learnt
- Authors: Mulder, Nicola J , Christoffels, Alan , De Oliveira, Tulio , Gamieldien, Junaid , Hazelhurst, Scott , Joubert, Fourie , Kumuthini, Judit , Pillay, Ché S , Snoep, Jacky L , Tastan Bishop, Özlem , Tiffin, Nicki
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/148347 , vital:38731 , DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004395
- Description: Bioinformatics is now a critical skill in many research and commercial environments as biological data are increasing in both size and complexity. South African researchers recognized this need in the mid-1990s and responded by working with the government as well as international bodies to develop initiatives to build bioinformatics capacity in the country. Significant injections of support from these bodies provided a springboard for the establishment of computational biology units at multiple universities throughout the country, which took on teaching, basic research and support roles. Several challenges were encountered, for example with unreliability of funding, lack of skills, and lack of infrastructure. However, the bioinformatics community worked together to overcome these, and South Africa is now arguably the leading country in bioinformatics on the African continent. Here we discuss how the discipline developed in the country, highlighting the challenges, successes, and lessons learnt.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016