Wafaa M. Rashed and PAPERI Advance Genomics Education, Policy, and Innovation Across Africa

PAPERI Admin shared a post on LinkedIn:

“About PAPERI: PAPERI is dedicated to empowering African scientists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with the knowledge and tools necessary to harness PGS for precision medicine and public health advancements. Our initiative is driven by a commitment to education, research, and advocacy, ensuring that Africa remains at the forefront of genetic research and its applications.

Our Vision: ‘To establish PAPERI as the premier platform advancing Polygenic Scores (PGS) education, fostering research collaboration, and promoting ethical practices across Africa. Our vision is to drive innovation and enhance health outcomes continent-wide by integrating genetic research and health policies.’

Our Mission: ‘Our mission is to promote PGS literacy, facilitate collaborative research efforts, and advocate for ethical standards in genetic research across Africa. Through educational initiatives, strategic research partnerships, and proactive policy advocacy, we aim to empower African scientists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to harness PGS for precision medicine and public health advancements.’ “

PAPERI Admin shared a post on LinkedIn by Wafaa M. Rashed, Chair and founder of PAPERI, adding:

“Heartfelt congratulations to the entire AID-MASH Consortium on this incredible achievement!

We are especially proud to see Prof. DR. Marwa Matboly and our very own Dr. Wafaa M. Rashed, Chair of PAPERI, taking a leading role ,as PI and Co-PI, respectively, in this visionary project supported by ASRT JESOR 2024.

This initiative exemplifies the power of global collaboration and scientific innovation to address one of the world’s most urgent health challenges – MASH/MAFLD. The integration of AI and multi-omics into accessible, non-invasive diagnostics represents a game-changing leap for liver health and precision medicine.

We are excited to witness the strides this project will make toward SDG 3, 9, and 17, and proud of the strong representation of Egyptian and diaspora excellence in driving transformative healthcare solutions.

We look forward to the impactful outcomes that will emerge from this consortium – and we stand ready to amplify and support this work through PAPERI’s pan-African mission of policy, education, and research.”

Quoting Wafaa M. Rashed’s post:

“Thrilled to Announce a Major Milestone!

We are proud to share that we have been awarded a prestigious project from ASRT JESOR 2024 to develop an Artificial Intelligence Prototype for the Diagnosis, Stratification, and Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) – a transformative step forward in tackling one of the most pressing liver diseases globally.

This project aims to revolutionize early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of MAFLD/MASH, integrating cutting-edge multi-omics biomarkers with advanced AI models to deliver a non-invasive, accurate, and accessible diagnostic tool. The final goal? A cost-effective, smartphone-compatible, holography-based molecular detection device that empowers clinicians and improves patient outcomes.

Our work is deeply rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

This groundbreaking project will be implemented through the AID-MASH Consortium (Artificial Intelligence for the Diagnosis and Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis) – a powerhouse of SEVEN Egyptian experts from the US and Canada, including one industrial partner, united by a shared mission to combat liver disease with science and innovation.

• Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Marwa Sayed (Ain Shams University)

• Co-PI: Dr. Wafaa M. Rashed (Chair of PAPERI)

Meet our outstanding international team: (AID-MASH consortium)

• Dr. Ayman El-Kadi – University of Alberta, Canada

• Dr. Mohamed H. Abdel-Rahman – The Ohio State University, USA

• Dr. Nahed Ismail – University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

• Dr. Ahmed Salem, PhD, FCP – University of Minnesota, USA

• Dr. Safaa A. Ibrahim – Certara/Pharmacometrics Africa and Chicago Medical School, USA

• Dr. Khaled Barakat – University of Alberta, Canada

• Dr. Dalia A. Hamdy (She/Her)- University of Alberta, Canada

This effort also proudly spotlights the role of the Egyptian diaspora in scientific advancement, building bridges between academia, industry, and clinical care.

We look forward to sharing updates as we progress towards a new frontier in AI-powered precision medicine for liver disease.”

Read further.

Wafaa M. Rashed shared a post on LinkedIn by PAPERI, adding:

“Help Us Spread the Word Across Africa!

We are calling on our community to share this announcement widely. Let’s recruit more African scientists from West, East, North, Central, and Southern Africa.

This is more than a course – it’s a movement to shape policy with science, equity, and ethics at the center.

Please repost, forward to networks, and tag colleagues who should join!

Together, we can build a stronger voice for Africa in global genomics and health policy.

‘Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.’ – Kofi Annan

Let’s move forward – together.”

Quoting PAPERI’s post:

“Registration Extended! Now Open Until 19 June 2025 for the 9th Cohort of the ‘Policy Advocacy in Genetics and Genomics’ Course!

Organized by the Pan-African PGS Education and Research Initiative (PAPERI)

Open to African and Non-African Scientists

This self-paced online course is designed to empower participants with the knowledge and practical tools needed to advocate for the integration of genetics and genomics into health and research policies – especially in Africa, where such policies are urgently needed.

Key Dates:

• Registration Deadline: 19 June 2025

• Course Start Date: 20 June 2025

• Final Exam Submission: 07 July 2025

• Final Presentations and Debate: 12 July 2025

Please share with your colleagues and networks!”

Register.

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