Get the latest delivered to your inbox
Privacy Policy

Now Reading

The African Continent Ramps Up Efforts To Crack the Code on Outbreaks

The African Continent Ramps Up Efforts To Crack the Code on Outbreaks

Published 04-18-23

Submitted by Illumina

" "
Samuel Oyola, senior scientist and head of genomics at Nairobi's International Livestock Research Institute, near a vat used for long-term storage of specimen samples. Photo by: Sara Jerving / Devex

Originally published on Devex

By Sara Jerving

On a recent afternoon in Nairobi, Kenya, about two dozen scientists gathered, peering at a screen that to the untrained eye looked like gibberish — rows of letters but no coherent words.

The scientists were attending a training to advance skills in the analysis of genomic sequences — a process where the genetic code of an organism is turned into data which reveals information about its characteristics. It’s an important technique in public health to determine what pathogen is inflicting a community and whether it’s mutating.

" "
Oyola looking at equipment used for genomic sequencing. Photo by: Sara Jerving / Devex

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only seven African countries had national laboratories equipped to do this. But the need to identify new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 forced laboratories to ramp up this expertise in an unprecedented way.

During the first year of the pandemic, the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative was launched as a partnership to close gaps in genomics capacity. As part of that partnership, over the past two years, American biotechnology company Illumina donated over $9 million in sequencing systems, reagents, and training to the continent.

Continue reading the full article here

" "
Equipment used for genomic sequencing. Photo by: Sara Jerving / Devex
" "
Oyola near a refrigerator full of reagents that are used in the genomic sequencing process. Photo by: Sara Jerving / Devex

 

Illumina logo

Illumina

Illumina

Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. Our focus on innovation has established us as the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical, and applied markets. Our products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. 

More from Illumina

Join today and get the latest delivered to your inbox