KidneyGenAfrica | Chronic kidney disease Africa | Genetics research in Africa | Capacity building and training Africa

Overview

Kidney disease is a major and growing health challenge across Africa, yet African populations remain vastly underrepresented in genetic studies of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Harnessing Africa’s unparalleled genomic diversity to understand kidney disease risk and improve patient outcomes requires both cutting-edge science and a new generation of African leaders in kidney genomics.

Following the success of our inaugural KidneyGenAfrica short course in January 2026, we are hosting another five day intensive workshop in Malawi. This workshop will bring together a diverse group of postgraduate and early-career researchers from across the continent to strengthen knowledge, practical skills, and collaborative networks in the genetic epidemiology of kidney disease. Participants will explore CKD phenotypes in African populations, critically appraise genetic contributors such as APOL1, and gain hands-on experience with genome-wide association studies, polygenic risk scores, and emerging multi-omics approaches.

Through expert-led seminars, interactive discussions, and practical data analysis sessions, the course will provide a platform to examine ethical and community considerations in African genomics, share research across diverse contexts, and develop project proposals. Participants will leave with new technical skills, strengthened professional networks, and a deeper understanding of how to drive equitable kidney genomics research across Africa.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the participants will be able to:

1. Implement basic bioinformatics workflows and programming tools used in large-scale genomic analyses.
2. Execute a GWAS pipeline and critically interpret findings in the context of African genomic diversity.
3. Analyse and interpret the shared genetic architecture between kidney function and psychiatric traits in African populations.
4. Design and present an original research project proposal building on KidneyGenAfrica data and methods.