[AfSHG-Listserv] Launching of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) project.

[Adebowale Adeyemo]

Message from the President - Charles Rotimi


I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate members of the AfSHG for having the foresight to start the discussions around the establishment of the "African Genome Project" that laid the foundation for the successful launching of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) project. 

The project is a partnership between The National Institutes of Health, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Wellcome Trust, a global charity 
based in London. The initiative will support population-based genetic studies in Africa of common, non-communicable disorders such as heart disease and cancer, as well as communicable diseases such as malaria.  The studies, to be conducted by African researchers, will utilize genetic, clinical and epidemiologic screening tools that identify hereditary and non-hereditary components that contribute to the risk of illnesses. The Human Heredity and Health in Africa project, or H3Africa, will receive $5 million a year from the National Institutes of Health for five years starting in the 2011 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The National Institutes of Health also provided $750,000 in the current fiscal year to begin organizing the project.  The Wellcome Trust will contribute at least $12 million (£8 million) over the next five years to H3Africa, as well as administrative support, advanced training 
and scientific consultation. In addition, the African Society for Human Genetics will provide in-kind support, particularly organizing researchers in Africa. 

The project was formally launched on Tuesday June 22, 2010 at a press conference in London, UK. You may watch the full press briefing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0H8KwmWaAY. A transcript of the press conference is also available at: http://www.genome.gov/Pages/Newsroom/Webcasts/Transcript-H3-AfricaPressConference.pdf. 

The attached documents provide more information about the project.

Looking forward to working together on this historic initiative.


Charles N. Rotimi, PhD
Director, Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health
Senior Investigator, Inherited Disease Research Branch
Building 12A, Room 4047
12 South Dr, MSC 5635 
Bethesda, MD 20892-5635
T: (301) 451-2303
F: (301) 451-5426
E: rotimic at mail.nih.gov 
http://crggh.nih.gov
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