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Letter from the Founder of Pan-African PGS Education and Research Initiative

Wafaa Rashed/LinkedIn

Jul 9, 2025, 09:56

Letter from the Founder of Pan-African PGS Education and Research Initiative

Pan-African PGS Education and Research Initiative (PAPERI) shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Letter from the Founder: One Year of PAPERI
Dear PAPERI Community,
Exactly one year ago, PAPERI was launched as an independent platform with a bold dream: to reshape the future of genomics, precision medicine, and health policy in Africa by centering equity, education, and African leadership.

I remember those first few weeks vividly — reaching out to early supporters, building the first course, hosting our first webinars, and wondering if anyone would join. And you did. You showed up with energy, questions, ideas, and determination. PAPERI has grown because of you — and today, we celebrate together.

In just one year, we’ve:

Trained over 100 learners across Africa and the diaspora
Built the PAPERI Bright Minds series to spotlight world-leading scientists
Launched policy campaigns that echoed across global health spaces
Created database, blogs, and collaborative tools that elevate our community’s voice
And most importantly, made advocacy and genomics education accessible, relevant, and African-led

But our journey has not been without challenges.
We’ve navigated the uncertainty of building from scratch, worked tirelessly with no guaranteed funding, and pushed forward while wearing many hats — from instructor and writer to organizer and designer. Each obstacle reminded us how fragile but also how powerful grassroots science movements can be when fueled by purpose and people.
What kept us going was you — our community. The PAPERI members who volunteered their time, shared ideas, translated resources, cheered on their peers, and believed in the mission, even when it was still taking shape.

To our speakers, reviewers, editors, students, partners, and champions — thank you. Your belief in PAPERI gave it life.

As we move into Year Two, our vision is even clearer:

Deepen and expand our training programs
Build stronger bridges between research and policy
Increase visibility of African genomics in global arenas
Secure sustainable support to keep this work thriving
And never stop advocating for equity in childhood cancer, rare diseases, and genomic access

As PAPERI turns one, I want you to know: this is your celebration. You are part of something bold, necessary, and transformative. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Here’s to more science, more justice, and more impact — Together.

With deep gratitude and solidarity,
Dr. Wafaa M Rashed, BPharm. MSc., PhD, BCNSP
Founder and Chair, PAPERI.”