NIH reports that the H3Africa grants will help train and education scientists in Africa, encourage collaboration between researchers, improve the study of genomics research in Africa, and train the next generation of African researchers.  

 

According to NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., “H3Africa aims to transform the way science is conducted in Africa, by creating a sustainable research infrastructure and catalyzing the use of advanced genomic technologies to improve our understanding of a variety of diseases.  This is particularly relevant because Africa is the original cradle of all humanity, and in this era of expanded global travel and communication, it is becoming increasingly clear that we must thing beyond our borders when it comes to understanding human biology and improving health.”  

 

NIH has agreed to donate $25 million of the next five years, and the Wellcome Trust has agreed to donate nearly $13 million.  

 

Sir Mark Walport, the director of the Wellcome Trust, stated, “If we are to help tackle the growing burden of disease in Africa, it is important that we build capacity within the continent for African researchers and their institutions in order to understand the genetic and environmental causes of illness.” 

 

The H3Africa projects were announced during a meeting between the principal investigators from 22 different African countries. 

 

Source: National Institutes of Health