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Review
. 2022 Nov 9;2(11):None.
doi: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100209.

Uganda Genome Resource: A rich research database for genomic studies of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa

Segun Fatumo  1   2   3 , Joseph Mugisha  3 , Opeyemi S Soremekun  1   3 , Allan Kalungi  1   3 , Richard Mayanja  1   4 , Christopher Kintu  1   4 , Ronald Makanga  3 , Ayoub Kakande  3 , Andrew Abaasa  3 , Gershim Asiki  5 , Robert Kalyesubula  3   4 , Robert Newton  3 , Moffat Nyirenda  2   3 , Manj S Sandhu  6 , Pontiano Kaleebu  3
Affiliations
Review

Uganda Genome Resource: A rich research database for genomic studies of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa

Segun Fatumo et al. Cell Genom. .

Abstract

The Uganda Genome Resource (UGR) is a well-characterized genomic database with a range of phenotypic communicable and non-communicable diseases and risk factors generated from the Uganda General Population Cohort (GPC), a population-based open cohort established in 1989. The UGR comprises genotype data on ∼5,000 and whole-genome sequence data on ∼2,000 Ugandan GPC individuals from 10 ethno-linguistic groups. Leveraging other platforms at MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, there is opportunity for additional sample collection to expand the UGR to advance scientific discoveries. Here, we describe UGR and highlight how it is providing opportunities for discovery of novel disease susceptibility genetic loci, refining association signals at new and existing loci, developing and testing polygenic scores to determine disease risk, assessing causal relations in diseases, and developing capacity for genomics research in Africa. The UGR has the potential to develop to a comparable level of European and Asian large-scale genomic initiatives.

Keywords: GPC; NCDs; Uganda; general population cohort; genomics; non-communicable diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of the samples with genotyped data in the Uganda Genome Resource
Figure 2
Figure 2
Strategic design of the different platforms which support the Uganda Genome Resource
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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