What are the aims of the project?

The project aims to enhance Africa’s capacity in genomics, address global health disparities, and support the development of medicines tailored to African genetic diversity. The GenCoE-PAGRA African WGS Moonshot Project is designed to advance genomic research by conducting whole genome sequencing (WGS) in Africa, ensuring that samples remain on the continent. It prioritizes maximum access to genomic data for African scientists, empowering them to lead biomedical research while retaining ownership of their samples and data. The initiative supports research and development efforts aimed at creating pharmaceuticals and diagnostics optimized for African populations. To ensure responsible data management, the project establishes a controlled access framework via the European Genome-Phenome Archive (EGA), with governance overseen by the H3Africa Data and Biospecimen Access Committee (DBAC). Additionally, a two-year publication embargo is implemented to safeguard the rights of the researchers generating the data.