May 7, 2026 - Scientists, researchers, healthcare professionals, and institutional partners from across the African continent gathered to celebrate the official launch of the AfriGen-D platform – an initiative that aims to strengthen human genomics research, data discovery, collaboration, and capacity development across Africa.

The launch event highlighted the platform’s vision of transforming how African genomics and health-related data can be analyzed, shared, and accessed to advance research innovation and improve health outcomes for African populations. Developed through a collaboration between the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Division of Computational Biology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis and the University of Mauritius, the platform aims to bridge gaps in human genomic data analysis, while promoting ethical, secure, and equitable data protection and practices.

Speaking during the launch, Professor Segun Fatumo, who is a Chair of Genomic Diversity at Queen Mary University of London and Head of Non-Communicable Disease Genomics at the MRC Uganda Research Unit, where he leads pioneering cross-continental research programmes, emphasized the importance of African-led initiatives to address African health challenges.

“In genomics today, the biggest gap is also the biggest opportunity. Africa has the deepest genomic diversity and the fastest growing health burden. This imbalance is the challenge we should all aim to solve first” he said.

The launch marks the start of the continent wide engagement on the importance of the AfriGen-D and the capabilities of its resources. As engagement with the platform continues to grow, AfriGen-D aims to further expand its resources and collaborative opportunities while supporting responsible data sharing, scientific advancement, and long-term sustainability in African human genomics research.

Watch the event on the video below