Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in Africa, requiring a skilled workforce in the areas of informatics, management and data analysis related to this infectious disease. To fill this crucial gap, the Fogarty International Center of the US National Institutes of Health is awarding a five-year grant of 28 million rand (around $1.5 million) to the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.

An ambitious training programme to build capacity in bioinformatics

The training programme, led by Professors Marlo Möller and Samantha Sampson from the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics at Stellenbosch University, will focus on infectious diseases, in particular tuberculosis.

The aim is to reduce the shortage of bioinformaticians in Africa, a multidisciplinary field that requires in-depth education and training.

The programme will equip students with the skills to use powerful computational methods, including artificial intelligence, to extract information from complex biological and health data.

 All in all, this initiative promises to foster the development of cutting-edge bioinformatics skills and the training of innovative researchers with a view to improving public health on the African continent.

Source : Agence Ecofin

Vanessa Ntoh