10 research outputs found
Expanding Research Capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa Through Informatics, Bioinformatics, and Data Science Training Programs in Mali
Bioinformatics and data science research have boundless potential across Africa due to its high levels of genetic diversity and disproportionate burden of infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS, Ebola virus disease, and Lassa fever. This work lays out an incremental approach for reaching underserved countries in bioinformatics and data science research through a progression of capacity building, training, and research efforts. Two global health informatics training programs sponsored by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) were carried out at the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali (USTTB) between 1999 and 2011. Together with capacity building efforts through the West Africa International Centers of Excellence in Malaria Research (ICEMR), this progress laid the groundwork for a bioinformatics and data science training program launched at USTTB as part of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative. Prior to the global health informatics training, its trainees published first or second authorship and third or higher authorship manuscripts at rates of 0.40 and 0.10 per year, respectively. Following the training, these rates increased to 0.70 and 1.23 per year, respectively, which was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001). The bioinformatics and data science training program at USTTB commenced in 2017 focusing on student, faculty, and curriculum tiers of enhancement. The programâs sustainable measures included institutional support for core elements, university tuition and fees, resource sharing and coordination with local research projects and companion training programs, increased student and faculty publication rates, and increased research proposal submissions. Challenges reliance of high-speed bandwidth availability on short-term funding, lack of a discounted software portal for basic software applications, protracted application processes for United States visas, lack of industry job positions, and low publication rates in the areas of bioinformatics and data science. Long-term, incremental processes are necessary for engaging historically underserved countries in bioinformatics and data science research. The multi-tiered enhancement approach laid out here provides a platform for generating bioinformatics and data science technicians, teachers, researchers, and program managers. Increased literature on bioinformatics and data science training approaches and progress is needed to provide a framework for establishing benchmarks on the topics
Screening of exon 11 of BRCA1 gene using the high resolution melting approach for diagnosis in Moroccan breast cancer patients
Appropriation et vulgarisation d'outils d'aide à la décision dans la co-gestion du périmÚtre irrigué de la Vallée du Kou (sud-ouest du Burkina Faso)
Dans le cadre dâun programme national de sĂ©curitĂ© alimentaire datant des annĂ©es 60, un pĂ©rimĂštre rizicole irriguĂ© de 1.200 ha, appelĂ© la VallĂ©e du Kou, a Ă©tĂ© Ă©tabli dans le Sud-ouest du Burkina Faso (Bama). Long temps conjointement gĂ©rĂ© par lâEtat et toute une sĂ©rie dâagences dâaide au dĂ©veloppement, tout appui sâest brutalement arrĂȘtĂ© en 1993 laissant les agriculteurs Ă peine prĂ©parĂ© pour assumer la relĂšve de la gestion. Le rĂ©sultat : un ancien beau pĂ©rimĂštre succombe dans un thĂ©Ăątre typique de gestion anarchique. DiffĂ©rentes structures de coopĂ©ratives ont tentĂ© depuis, de gĂ©rer leur petite part du pĂ©rimĂštre passant outre aux rĂšgles et sans aucun respect pour leurs voisins. Les travaux de maintenance avaient disparu, les rĂ©coltes Ă©taient en baisses et lâeau disponible ne satisfaisaient plus aux besoins laissant presque un quart des champs en jachĂšres. Observant lâĂ©tat de plus en plus dĂ©gradĂ© du pĂ©rimĂštre et conscient de leurs faibles capacitĂ©s de gestion, lâUnion des CoopĂ©ratives Rizicole de Bama (UCRB) sâest finalement adressĂ©e Ă un opĂ©rateur externe (AEDE), expĂ©rimentĂ© dans le domaine de lâeau et de lâagriculture, pour obtenir un appui. Cette assistance est dĂ©ployĂ©e Ă
deux niveaux. PremiĂšrement, lâinstallation dâun conseiller permanent en irrigation sur le pĂ©rimĂštre intervenant comme appui technique auprĂšs des agriculteurs et chargĂ© dâĂ©tablir un inventaire technique et objectif sur lâĂ©tat du pĂ©rimĂštre et de sa gestion. DeuxiĂšmement, des Ă©tudes plus techniques ont Ă©tĂ© Ă©tablies afin de quantifier les problĂšmes de gestion et de proposer des solutions en termes dâoccupations des parcelles et de distribution dâeau
plus durables. Ceci a notamment nĂ©cessitĂ© la mise en place et lâapplication de lâoutil de gestion de pĂ©rimĂštre irriguĂ© SIMIS. A travers les diffĂ©rentes Ă©tapes, des rĂ©unions participatives ont Ă©tĂ© organisĂ©es au niveau de lâunion des coopĂ©ratives ainsi quâau niveau des diffĂ©rentes coopĂ©ratives. Les producteurs ont Ă©tĂ© Ă©coutĂ©s, et des plans et solutions proposĂ©s et discutĂ©s. Si nĂ©cessaire, des compromis Ă©taient cherchĂ©s et reprĂ©sentĂ©s pour approbation. Quelques mois seulement aprĂšs la mise en place de cet appui-conseil, une augmentation de lâoccupation des parcelles dans le pĂ©rimĂštre a Ă©tĂ© constatĂ©e et une distribution en eau plus Ă©quitable enregistrĂ©e. CĂŽtĂ© producteurs, une satisfaction gĂ©nĂ©rale a Ă©tĂ© notĂ©e et ils souhaitent Ă prĂ©sent sâengager davantage dans cette gestion externe du pĂ©rimĂštre. Dâautres pĂ©rimĂštres ont Ă©galement manifestĂ© leur intĂ©rĂȘt
Screening of exon 11 of BRCA1 gene using the high resolution melting approach for diagnosis in Moroccan breast cancer patients
MOESM1 of Impact of I/D polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene on myocardial infarction susceptibility among young Moroccan patients
Additional file 1: Table S1. HardyâWeinberg equilibrium (HWE) among cases and control. Table 2. Traditional risk factors vs I/D ACE genotypes distribution among < 45 years of age MI patients. Figure S1. Cytogenetic Location of ACE gene