Timothy Rebbeck, Vincent L. Gregory, Jr. Professor of Cancer Prevention at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Professor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shared Tanzania Human Genetics Organization (THGO)’s post on LinkedIn, adding:
“Most of our genomic knowledge was built on a sliver of humanity. Over 79% of participants in large-scale genetic studies are of European ancestry. The foundation on which risk prediction, cancer screening, and precision therapies have been built have not included data that will make these tools stronger for everyone.
Models that exclude some groups quietly miscalibrate clinical decisions at the bedside.
Kudos for Mohamed Zahir Alimohamed, PhD and colleagues for this important work.”
Quoting Tanzania Human Genetics Organization (THGO)’s post:
“THGO is pleased to share a newly published article co-authored by our Secretary General, Dr. Mohamed Zahir Alimohamed, PhD, highlighting the urgent need to advance genomic equity through national genome projects across Africa.
Despite holding the world’s greatest genetic diversity, African populations remain underrepresented in global genomics research. The article calls for strategic investment in local genomic infrastructure, workforce development, ethical data governance, and national genome initiatives to ensure Africa benefits equitably from precision medicine.
Title: Advancing global genomic equity: making a case for national genome projects in Africa
Authors: Mohamed Zahir Alimohamed, Ghada El-Kamah, Yosr Hamdi, Marta Vicente-Crespo, Rokhaya Ndiaye and Michele Ramsay
Other articles featuring Timothy Rebbeck on OncoDaily.