title: The Development of Computational Biology in South Africa: Successes Achieved and Lessons Learnt.
abstract: 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.
authors: Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Nicola J
authors: NJ
authors: Mulder
authors: South African National Bioinformatics Institute/Medical Research Council of South Africa Bioinformatics Unit, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Christoffels
authors: Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors: Tulio
authors: T
authors: de Oliveira
authors: South African National Bioinformatics Institute/Medical Research Council of South Africa Bioinformatics Unit, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors: Junaid
authors: J
authors: Gamieldien
authors: School of Electrical & Information Engineering, and Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Hazelhurst
authors: Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: Fourie
authors: F
authors: Joubert
authors: Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Judit
authors: J
authors: Kumuthini
authors: School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
authors: Ché S
authors: CS
authors: Pillay
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors: Jacky L
authors: JL
authors: Snoep
authors: Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
authors: Özlem
authors: Ö
authors: Tastan Bishop
authors: South African National Bioinformatics Institute/Medical Research Council of South Africa Bioinformatics Unit, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
authors: Nicki
authors: N
authors: Tiffin
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D013019:South Africa