H3ABioNet aims to create a sustainable African Bioinformatics Network to support H3Africa researchers through the development of bioinformatics capacity on the continent. Specifically, it aims to: 1) engage with the H3Africa Consortium, providing a framework for integration and communication amongst its members to ensure progress towards the common goal of full exploitation of our genomic and environmental resources for translation into improved health in Africa; 2) develop a core bioinformatics infrastructure (hardware and human resources) to aid research in genomic medicine, high throughput biology, systems biology, genetics, and medicine, for the study of human heredity and health; S) develop tools and bioinformatics solutions appropriate for exploitation and interpretation of biological information in Africa, and make these more accessible to H3Africa researchers; 4) develop research partnerships and promote interaction between bioinformaticians, clinicians, molecular geneticists and ethics researchers to ensure integrative research into health issues in Africa; 5) develop the bioinformatics capacity of people in Africa t empower them to perform cutting edge research, and to ensure retention of bioinformatics skills on the continent; 6) facilitate secure, high-fidelity storage and management of data generated within the H3Africa framework and their deposition in public databases, so that maximum value can be derived from these data; and 7) ensure that the increasing amount of information from genomic analyses and high-throughput molecular biology is accessible to all H3Africa researchers, to promote health research, scientific progress and global competitiveness in Africa.
These aims will be achieved through four major activities: user support, training and capacity development, research and tools, and outreach and communication. These activities will result in a bioinformatics support structure, continuous specialized training for bioinformaticians and researchers, development and accessibility of new tools appropriate for the African setting, and a framework for communication flow within the H3Africa Consortium. Through the pooling of existing expertise and training of the next generation of researchers, we will build critical mass in bioinformatics for H3Africa.
By building bioinformatics capacity in Africa through training of researchers and bioinformatics students and providing infrastructure and support, this project will increase the technical skills on the continent and enable African researchers to analyze and exploit African patient data for the benefit of African patients. This project will ensure retentio of data, intellectual property and skills on the continent; as well as facilitating African centric advances in biomedical research to improve the health of African populations.
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