Wellcome awards $13.2 million to boost African genomics, health equity !!

Wellcome’s recent £10 million (~US $13.2 million) grant will fund GEN-IMPACT — an Africa-led genomics initiative over the next five years. Its goal: to build a genomics platform that gathers and links genomic, phenotypic, and environmental data from diverse African populations. Wellcome+2scienceforafrica.foundation+2
The project will also invest in research infrastructure, capacity building, data governance tools, and training — so that African scientists, institutions, and communities lead the research. Wellcome+1

A key part of the funding is support for the African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI). The ABI aims to coordinate bioinformatics and genomics research across Africa—reducing dependency on Global North labs and enabling local scientists to analyze genomes and pathogens on the continent. Wellcome+2fundsbeeline.com+2
This helps fill a long-standing gap: historically, Africa has been underrepresented in global genomic databases, despite having the world’s greatest human genetic diversity. Wellcome+2scienceforafrica.foundation+2

Wellcome — along with other global funders — previously supported H3Africa, an initiative started around 2010–2012 to conduct genomic studies across many African countries and build local capacity. Genome.gov+2Wikipedia+2
Under H3Africa, African researchers, institutions, and communities began leading studies of genetics, environment and disease — for both communicable and non-communicable conditions. Genome.gov+2Genome.gov+2
The new GEN-IMPACT builds on that foundation — scaling up efforts, expanding bioinformatics infrastructure, and aiming for more equitable, Africa-centered genomics research. Wellcome+2scienceforafrica.foundation+2

By tapping into Africa’s broad genetic diversity and tying genomic data to environmental and phenotypic data, GEN-IMPACT could reveal new insights into disease risks, treatment responses, and health determinants unique to African populations. Wellcome+2scienceforafrica.foundation+2
Investing in local capacity and leadership helps ensure that research is aligned with African health priorities — improving relevance, data sovereignty, trust, and ultimately outcomes.

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