The Future of Medicine is in Africa's Genes

Humans have witnessed great evolution over time from primitive beings to more organized and complex beings. I wonder if the evolution of human beings will undergo further changes and I wonder what these changes will look like. Will these changes bring us closer together as a species or will they pull us further apart? Already, there exist great disparities in our species due to this evolution though to some extent still less informed. There are over 20,000 genes in the human species yet we understand barely 25% of these genes. 

In the Global Health Unfiltered podcast episode entitled “Elevating Genetic Research in Africa,” Prof. Ambroise Wonkam, Professor of Genetic Medicine and director of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University, addresses some of my questions. The fact that we, humans, currently understand less than a quarter of our genome sounded to me like humanity is a stranger to itself. For Prof. Wonkam, this mystery represents an opportunity, especially from an African perspective.

Prof. Wonkam believes that there is much to be gleaned from the study of people of African descent due to the vast variety of sociocultural, linguistic, geographical, and demographic characteristics within Africa. The fact that some diseases have remained endemic to this region means we need to study and better understand the African genome. For example, genomic research has played a key role in the fight against pandemics such as HIV/AIDS infection.  

Though improvements in genetic research globally have been impressive, the African continent is lagging behind. This lag is best evidenced by the limited contribution of African genomics to databases - a mere 2%!!! Prof. Wonkam sees this deficiency as a missed opportunity for medicine and science as a whole. A comprehensive understanding of the human genome will help appreciate evolutionary trends and susceptibility to certain conditions. By doing so, prevention becomes more potent and treatment is made possible. 

Prof. Ambroise Wonkam is a Professor of Genetic Medicine and director of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University

In Prof. Wonkam’s view, the slow growth of genetic research in some African countries can not exclusively be blamed on the lack of resources but rather a lack of prioritization. This is because many African countries unfortunately do not value research, while others are constantly caught up with competing priorities such as crises like the recent COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters that draw their attention and resources away. Consequently, few scientists are motivated to pursue genetic research on the continent and those who dare to take the bull by the horn, end up lacking institutional support and properly equipped laboratories to work in. There are also sociocultural barriers to genetic research in Africa that translate into ethical challenges which make it hard for genetic research to be assimilated.

To elevate genetic research in Africa, Prof. Wonkam stressed the need for persistent advocacy at the national and regional levels and transnational collaboration. He believes that these efforts should be led by the public sector as well as individuals and NGOs. 

Moreover, African countries need to promote training in genetic research to bridge the gap of disparity. This can be done through scholarship, improving or creating facilities that support this idea, and implementing policies that make genetic research more practical and applicable to bridge the sociocultural, and religious barriers. He and colleagues have further elaborated on five priorities of African genomics research in their review article.

Before listening to Pr. Wonkam, I was convinced of two things. Firstly, the things that seem to unite humans are less than what makes each of us unique. Secondly, I wondered if humanity was ready to accept all the unknown facts about the human genome. After listening to this episode, I have gained a deeper appreciation for genetic research. I am now convinced genetic research is an important field that merits more investments in terms of time and resources as there can't be something as strange as being a stranger to oneself.