title: The collaborative African genomics network training program: a trainee perspective on training the next generation of African scientists.
abstract: The Collaborative African Genomics Network (CAfGEN) aims to establish sustainable genomics research programs in Botswana and Uganda through long-term training of PhD students from these countries at Baylor College of Medicine. Here, we present an overview of the CAfGEN PhD training program alongside trainees' perspectives on their involvement.
  
  
  
  Historically, collaborations between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), or North-South collaborations, have been criticized for the lack of a mutually beneficial distribution of resources and research findings, often undermining LMICs. CAfGEN plans to address this imbalance in the genomics field through a program of technology and expertise transfer to the participating LMICs.
  
  
  
  An overview of the training program is presented. Trainees from the CAfGEN project summarized their experiences, looking specifically at the training model, benefits of the program, challenges encountered relating to the cultural transition, and program outcomes after the first 2 years.
  
  
  
  Collaborative training programs like CAfGEN will not only help establish sustainable long-term research initiatives in LMICs but also foster stronger North-South and South-South networks. The CAfGEN model offers a framework for the development of training programs aimed at genomics education for those for whom genomics is not their "first language." Genet Med advance online publication 06 April 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Busisiwe C
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7444-3937
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Mlotshwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Savannah
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5466-2315
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mwesigwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8445-9414
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mboowa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Lesedi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3506-9695
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Gaone
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1721-0963
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Retshabile
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation-Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Adeodata
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8240-1796
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kekitiinwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Misaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wayengera
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyobe
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.|Current affiliation: Genetics Division, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Chester W
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4265-4072
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.|ARS/USDA/Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hanchard
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.|Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8555-4373
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mardon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Moses
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0147-1819
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joloba
authors.affiliation: Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anabwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Sununguko W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Mpoloka
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D001902:Botswana; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000193:education; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D023281:Genomics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D013334:Students; D014454:Uganda; D014495:Universities