Applications invited for new Research Chair for Precision Medicine and Genomics
- Wits University
Based at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, the Chair will lead academically rigorous research in precision medicine and genomics in Africa.
The Roche Research Chair for Precision Medicine and Genomics will facilitate research and capacity strengthening in precision media and genomics.
This new Chair is established with support from Roche’s African Genomics Program and this position is a critical step towards strengthening precision medicine research, innovation and capacity in Africa.
Find further application and post details here. The application deadline is 15 January 2025.
Why we need to study African precision medicine and genomics
Africa is still underrepresented in genomic studies, often resulting in ineffective medical treatment for its diverse populations.
Fewer than 0.5% of participants in human genome research today are people with African ancestry, but continental African populations will comprise over 26% of the global total by 2050.
Harnessing Africa's unparalleled genetic diversity could offer insights into physiological adaptation, disease mechanisms, and new drug targets.
Professor Michèle Ramsay, SBIMB Director, says, “Increased research capacity in African genomics will expand genetic, biological and phenotype variation data. This allows for more individualised diagnosis and treatment. The incumbent of the research chair will play a crucial role in building the next generation of genomic scientists to serve the wider field of precision medicine."
Understanding Precision Medicine
Genetic profiles are well-researched in the Global North but cannot be applied to all healthcare contexts. Greater research capacity in precision medicine will allow medical treatment to go beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Precision medicine seeks to tailor healthcare to individual characteristics, accounting for how diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, mental health disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and infectious diseases play out.
The Roche Research Chair for Precision Medicine and Genomics in Africa receives an annual research grant over five years, with a package that includes support to build a robust research programme at the University.
It is an outstanding opportunity for an independent and energetic mid-career investigator to advance their career as an international leader in precision medicine and genomics research, with a focus on Africa.
Lisa Slater, Head of Roche’s African Genomics Program, says, “We are honoured to support the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience at Wits University to establish the Roche Research Chair for Precision Medicine and Genomics. This collaboration is a part of Roche's commitment to advancing genomic research and precision medicine in order to benefit people in Africa and around the world. By supporting significant research and fostering the next generation of genomic scientists, we aim to better understand the biology of disease and guide improved approaches to treatment."
The Roche African Genomics Program
Through its African Genomics Program, Roche and its partners are working to catalyse and accelerate African genomic and clinical research to provide tangible improvements in healthcare for people in Africa and worldwide.
The African Genomics Program aims to:
- Advance clinical care by supporting the development of safer, more effective, and better targeted drugs, based on evidence from African studies
- Help build clinical care pathways matched to populations and healthcare environments
- Identify novel targets and biomarkers to drive innovative therapeutics and diagnostics for all patients; and
- Enable genomic medicine for improved patient care.
The African Genomics Program works to reduce global health inequities, in close collaboration with partners across sectors including non-profit organisations, governments, multilateral bodies, industry, and academic institutions like Wits and the SBIMB.
African genomics and health equity
In Africa, there has been a significant increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) alongside the persistent burden of infectious diseases.
African genomic data will be crucial in understanding the intricate relationship between genetics, lifestyle, and the environment.
“African genome diversity can help to interpret the impact of genetic variation on the phenotype,” says Ramsay, who is a member of the the World Health Organization’s Technical Advisory Group on Genomics and of the BePRECISE consortium that developed comprehensive guidelines aimed at improving the accuracy, safety, and health equity in precision medicine.
BePRECISE comprises 23 global experts in precision medicine. The consortium devised the BePRECISE reporting guidelines, which are an important tool for comparing research studies and accurately evaluating similarities and differences to avoid a misfit for African populations.
Wits and the SBIMB have been building research and clinical capacity to establish an African Genomics research hub, focusing on enhancing the continent's ability to analyse extensive genome, transcriptome, and epigenomic datasets and phenotype data to advance precision medicine in Africa.
One example is the Africa Wits-INDEPTH Partnership for Genomic Research (AWI-Gen), a study that involves over 12,000 adults from four sub-Saharan African countries. This study examines the genetic and environmental factors contributing to cardiometabolic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.
Furthermore, the SBIMB is a partner of Human Heredity and Health in Africa, the Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa), as well as several other international consortia.
Applications are now open for the Roche Research Chair for Precision Medicine and Genomics in Africa, based at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience at Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. Find further application and post details here. The application deadline is 15 January 2025.