The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) has partnered with Roche’s African Genomics Program (AGP) to investigate genetic factors linked to high blood pressure, using whole-genome sequencing of about 1,200 samples collected through an ongoing study in rural sub-Saharan Africa.
The research comes as hypertension continues to place a growing burden on African health systems. High blood pressure often develops earlier in life in sub-Saharan Africa and is associated with higher rates of complications including stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. Yet the populations most affected remain significantly underrepresented in genetic research used to understand disease and develop treatments.
The partnership will sequence the complete genetic code of samples from KWTRP’s Improving Hypertension Control in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa (IHCoR) study. Researchers will examine genetic variations that may influence how hypertension develops and identify potential biomarkers that could help predict disease and its complications.
Dr Anthony Etyang, consultant physician and head of epidemiology and demography at KWTRP, said the research would help shift the evidence base for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases towards data generated from African populations.
The project also seeks to build research capacity alongside generating new scientific evidence. Funding will support two PhD students and one postdoctoral researcher, while Roche data scientists will provide technical expertise to researchers involved in analysing the genomic data.
A key feature of the partnership will be the development of a secure data network connecting research sites in Kenya and The Gambia. Genomic data generated through the project will remain hosted in Africa and be managed by KWTRP, while being made available for collaborative research with scientists on the continent and internationally.
For African researchers, retaining genomic data within the continent could also strengthen local control over increasingly valuable health information and help build infrastructure for future studies.
The partnership comes against a wider imbalance in global genomics research. Despite Africa being home to the world's greatest human genetic diversity, people of recent African ancestry account for less than 3% of global genetic datasets.
By expanding African genomic datasets while training scientists and strengthening research infrastructure, the project aims to address a gap that has implications beyond hypertension. A better understanding of African genetic diversity could ultimately support the development of precision-medicine approaches that are more relevant to the biology and health needs of African populations.
Article by Jed Mwangi
photo courtesy:Health Business
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