NIH awards two new grants to explore the understanding of genomics research in Africa

Two grants totaling more than $300,000 will support studies on genomic literacy among Africans as it relates to research conducted in Africa by African investigators. The three-year grants are part of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) program, funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Common Fund in partnership with Britain’s Wellcome Trust.

One of the grants will support a research project to understand cultural and language concepts of genomics in Nigeria. The goal is to develop a participant consent form for a diabetes study that better relays genetic concepts in terms that people from both rural and urban environments in Nigeria understand. The other grant will support a project to determine Ethiopians’ understanding of gene-environment interactions, with a goal of also increasing awareness about disease susceptibility.

Both grants are part of the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) component of H3Africa. The program has disbursed approximately $78 million to date.
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