The future of global precision medicine relies heavily on the world's full genetic diversity, yet African populations - the most genetically diverse on Earth - have long been left out of genomic datasets.
A groundbreaking new publication, "Genomics in Africa", aims to reframe this balance.
Co-edited by Professor Segun Fatumo and Dr Tinashe Chikowore, the 304-page book brings together leading continental voices to advocate for local ownership, outline a 10-year research roadmap, and ensure that African scientists lead the shift from basic data collection to true health autonomy.
It covers several topics, including infectious disease, cancer and cardiometabolic traits, pharmacogenomics, mental health and metagenomics.
This focus is particularly significant as advances in genomics and precision medicine increasingly influence how diseases are understood, diagnosed, prevented and treated.
Ensuring that African populations are adequately represented in genomic research is essential if these advances are to benefit African populations and fully contribute to global health research.
Key research includes expertise from the University of Cape Town (UCT), with UCT's Professor Nicola Mulder contributing to the text and Professor Ambroise Wonkam, president of the UCT-hosted African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG), writing the foreword.
The book builds on the momentum of initiatives like H3Africa, which have spent the last decade strengthening local scientific capacity and infrastructure.
Why African genomic data matters
Wonkam highlighted the historical shift represented by the publication.
“For too long, the story of human genomics has been told without Africa in the room. This book puts African science and African scientists at the centre of that story, and it does so at exactly the moment when the continent's genomic research is coming into its own.
"I am proud to have written the foreword to a book that will shape how the next generation thinks about this field.”
Fatumo emphasised that the primary goal is shifting the paradigm from simple data collection to true autonomy.
“We wanted a book that reflects how genomics research in Africa is actually done, not just a summary written from the outside. Every chapter comes from people who have done this work on the ground, often navigating real constraints in funding, infrastructure and capacity.
“For us, this book is about moving beyond representation to leadership. Africa must not simply provide genomic data; African scientists must lead the research, shape the questions and translate genomic knowledge into better health, stronger research systems and opportunities for the next generation," Fatumo said.
Beyond clinical applications, the publication outlines a 10-year roadmap for genomics research on the continent and is intended for a broad audience, including researchers, research leaders, funders, policymakers and governments developing genomics programmes in Africa.
Chikowore pointed out that true global health equity is impossible without diverse representation.
“The future of precision medicine cannot be truly global if it does not adequately represent African populations. 'Genomics in Africa' brings together diverse perspectives and experiences to demonstrate both the progress and the opportunities across the continent.
“We hope the book will serve not only as a scientific resource, but also as a catalyst for greater collaboration, investment and African-led innovation in genomics.”
alyssia.birjalal@nationalmg.co.za