title: Molecular genetics research in sub-Saharan Africa: how can the international community help?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opportunities provided by rapidly increasing access to educational resources, clinical and epidemiological data, DNA collections, cheaper technology and financial investment, suggest that researchers in sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa (SSAOSA) could now join the genomics revolution on equal terms with those in the West.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current evidence, however, suggests that, in some cases, various factors may be compromising this development. One interpretation is that urgent practical problems, which may compromise motivation, aspiration and ambition, are blocking opportunity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those wishing to help should support the SSAOSA scientists both at the level of extending collaboration networks and in stimulating academic leadership at national and institutional levels to ensure adequate resources are allocated. Members of organisations representing the international community of human geneticists, such as HUGO, have a significant responsibility in supporting such activities.
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Endashaw
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bekele
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
authors.forename: Walter F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Bodmer
authors.affiliation: Henry Stewart Group, Russell House, 28/30 Little Russell Street, London, WC1A 2HN, UK.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bradman
authors.affiliation: MRC SGDP Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK. ian.craig@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.|Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makani
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Darwin Building, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Povey
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 12A, Room 4047, 12 South Drive, MSC 5635, Bethesda, 20892, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rotimi