title: Developing expertise in bioinformatics for biomedical research in Africa.
abstract: Research in bioinformatics has a central role in helping to advance biomedical research. However, its introduction to Africa has been met with some challenges (such as inadequate infrastructure, training opportunities, research funding, human resources, biorepositories and databases) that have contributed to the slow pace of development in this field across the continent. Fortunately, recent improvements in areas such as research funding, infrastructural support and capacity building are helping to develop bioinformatics into an important discipline in Africa. These contributions are leading to the establishment of world-class research facilities, biorepositories, training programmes, scientific networks and funding schemes to improve studies into disease and health in Africa. With increased contribution from all stakeholders, these developments could be further enhanced. Here, we discuss how the recent developments are contributing to the advancement of bioinformatics in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Karikari
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biological Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quansah
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Department, Menoufia Medical School, Menoufia University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wael M Y
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Mohamed
keywords: ASBCB, African Society for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology; Africa; Bioinformatics; Biomedical research; Computational biology; EVD, Ebola virus disease; FOSRs, free and open source resources; Genomics; H3ABioNet, a pan-African bioinformatics network funded under the H3Africa project; H3Africa, Human Heredity of Health in Africa; ISCB, International Society for Computational Biology; Research capacity