Multidisciplinary approach to genomics research in Africa: the AfriCRAN model

Azeez Butali; Peter Mossey; Nikki Tiffin; Wasiu Adeyemo; Mekonen Eshete; Chrispinanus Mumena; Rosemary Audu; Chika Onwuamah; Pius Agbenorku; Mobolanle Ogunlewe; Adetokunbo Adebola; Hecto Olasoji; Babatunde Aregbesola; Ramat Braimah; Abimibola Oladugba; Ifeanyichukwu Onah; Ezekiel Adebiyi; Peter Olaitan; Lukman Abdur-Rahman; Adebowale Adeyemo

doi:10.11604/pamj.2015.21.229.7380

Multidisciplinary approach to genomics research in Africa: the AfriCRAN model

Pan Afr Med J. 2015 Jul 30:21:229. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2015.21.229.7380. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Azeez Butali¹, Peter Mossey², Nikki Tiffin³, Wasiu Adeyemo⁴, Mekonen Eshete⁵, Chrispinanus Mumena⁶, Rosemary Audu⁷, Chika Onwuamah⁷, Pius Agbenorku⁸, Mobolanle Ogunlewe⁴, Adetokunbo Adebola⁹, Hecto Olasoji¹⁰, Babatunde Aregbesola¹¹, Ramat Braimah¹¹, Abimibola Oladugba¹², Ifeanyichukwu Onah¹³, Ezekiel Adebiyi¹⁴, Peter Olaitan¹⁵, Lukman Abdur-Rahman¹⁶, Adebowale Adeyemo¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. U.S.A.
² Department of Orthodontics, University of Dundee, Scotland. UK.
³ South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag, X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos. Nigeria.
⁵ Department of surgery School of Medicine Faculty of health sciences Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa. Ethiopia.
⁶ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kigali Health Institute, P.O. Box 3286, Kigali, Rwanda.
⁷ Human Virology Laboratory, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, 6, Edmond Crescent, P.M.B. 2013, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
⁸ Department of Plastic Surgery, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, P.O. Box 448, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
⁹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano. Nigeria.
¹⁰ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri. Nigeria.
¹¹ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Nigeria.
¹² Department of Biostatistics, University of Nigeria, Nssukka. Nigeria.
¹³ Department of Plastic Surgery, National Orthopedic hospital, Enugu. Nigeria.
¹⁴ Department of Computer and Information Sciences and Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe), Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria.
¹⁵ Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho. Nigeria.
¹⁶ Department of Pediatrics, University of Ilorin. Nigeria.
¹⁷ Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, U.S.A.

Abstract

This article is an outcome of the African Craniofacial Anomalies Research Network (AfriCRAN) Human Hereditary and Health (H3A) grant planning meeting in 2012 in Lagos, Nigeria. It describes the strengths of a multidisciplinary team approach to solving complex genetic traits in the craniofacial region. It also highlights the different components and argues for the composition of similar teams to fast track the discovery of disease genes, diagnostic tools, improved clinical treatment and ultimately prevention of diseases.

Keywords: Africa; Genomics; Multidisciplinary team.

Publication types

Letter
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Africa
Biomedical Research / organization & administration*
Craniofacial Abnormalities / diagnosis
Craniofacial Abnormalities / genetics*
Craniofacial Abnormalities / therapy
Genomics / methods*
Humans
Patient Care Team / organization & administration*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding