Approaches to enable equitable psychiatric genetic research in Africa

Allan Kalungi^{1

2

3}, Dan J Stein⁴, Niran Okewole^{5

6}, Segun Fatumo^{7

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. allan.kalungi@mrcuganda.org.
² Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. allan.kalungi@mrcuganda.org.
³ The Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London, London, UK. allan.kalungi@mrcuganda.org.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁵ Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
⁶ Pembroke College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.
⁷ Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. s.fatumo@qmul.ac.uk.
⁸ The Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London, London, UK. s.fatumo@qmul.ac.uk.
⁹ Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. s.fatumo@qmul.ac.uk.

PMID: 39455876
PMCID: PMC11511995
DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00639-z

Approaches to enable equitable psychiatric genetic research in Africa

Allan Kalungi et al. Commun Med (Lond). 2024.

. 2024 Oct 25;4(1):216.

doi: 10.1038/s43856-024-00639-z.

Authors

Allan Kalungi^{1

2

3}, Dan J Stein⁴, Niran Okewole^{5

6}, Segun Fatumo^{7

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. allan.kalungi@mrcuganda.org.
² Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. allan.kalungi@mrcuganda.org.
³ The Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London, London, UK. allan.kalungi@mrcuganda.org.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁵ Neuropsychiatric Hospital Aro, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
⁶ Pembroke College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.
⁷ Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM) Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. s.fatumo@qmul.ac.uk.
⁸ The Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine London, London, UK. s.fatumo@qmul.ac.uk.
⁹ Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. s.fatumo@qmul.ac.uk.

PMID: 39455876
PMCID: PMC11511995
DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00639-z

Abstract

African populations are currently underrepresented in global psychiatric genetics research. Here, we highlight the importance of conducting psychiatric genetics research in Africa, key issues which have hindered such research, and ongoing initiatives and strategies to overcome these issues.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1. Challenges and strategies for achieving equitable, inclusive and impactful psychiatric genetic research in Africa.**
The challenges (numbered) and proposed strategies could facilitate impactful psychiatric genetics research in Africa.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Approaches to enable equitable psychiatric genetic research in Africa

Affiliations

Approaches to enable equitable psychiatric genetic research in Africa

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Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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Abstract

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