Early lessons from the implementation of a pan-African clinico-genomic cancer platform: The African Cancer Atlas
Abstract Background: Limited representation of African populations in cancer genomics constrains the clinical applicability of precision oncology. We describe the establishment and early outcomes of The African Cancer Atlas (TACA), a multi-site platform integrating genomics, harmonized clinical data, and community engagement for adult breast cancer research across Africa. Methods: TACA, led by Yemaachi Biotech, has so far […]
Determinants of triple‑negative breast cancer among African patients: Early results from The African Cancer Atlas
Abstract Background: Triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC) is disproportionately common among women of African ancestry and is associated with aggressive clinical behavior and limited therapeutic options. Understanding demographic and contextual determinants of TNBC across African countries is essential to improving prevention, early detection, and precision oncology strategies. Using harmonized data from The African Cancer Atlas (TACA)–an […]
Precision Medicine on a Budget in Africa: using existing genetic data to mitigate adverse drug reactions to conventional cancer drugs.
Alexandra Lindsey Djomkam Zune , Charles Ochieng’ Olwal, Emmanuel Agbeli , Abdoulaye Baniré Diallo , Emmanuella Amoako, Yaw Bediako , Lily Paemka. Abstract Variations in drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters are associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs). ADRs to cancer drugs can differ among populations owing to environmental and genetic differences. Due to limited resources and prohibitive costs associated with drug development, African countries rely on […]
Adults in Ghana generate higher and more durable neutralising antibody titres following primary course COVID-19 vaccination than matched UK adults: The HERITAGE Study.
At Yemaachi, Bediako is developing cancer diagnostics and treatments tailored to Africans, and he describes the limited official data on patients with cancer across Africa as a major challenge.
Chronogram: an R package for data curation and analysis of infection and vaccination cohort studies
David Greenwood, Marianne Shawe-Taylor, Hermaleigh Townsley, Joshua Gahir, Nikita Sahadeo, Yakubu Alhassan, Charlotte Chaloner, Oliver Galgut, Gavin Kelly, David L V Bauer, Emma C Wall, Mary Y Wu, Edward J Carr Bioinformatics Advances, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2024, vbae146, https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbae146 Abstract Motivation: Observational cohort studies that track vaccine and infection responses offer real-world data to inform pandemic policy. Translating biological hypotheses, such as whether different patterns of […]
Targeted gene panel sequencing of liquid and tissue biopsies reveals actionable genomic alterations in Ghanaian metastatic breast cancer cases
Emmanuella Amoako abc, Setor Amuzu a, Emmanuel Owusu Ofori b, Harry Sefoga Akligoh a, Randy Tackie a, Barikisu Anna Ibrahim a, Emmanuel Kofi Quaye a, Patrick Kafui Akakpo bcd, Luke Adagrah Aniakwo b, Bashiro Jimah bc, Kofi Ulzen-Appiah bc, David Hutchful a, Aida Manu a, Joyce M Ngoi a, Lily Paemka a, Yakubu Alhassan ae, Ernest Amo Obeng d, Nicole Lim f, Lisa Rajah f, Michelle Pek f…Yaw Bediako a Transl Oncol; 49: 102100, 2024 Nov, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102100 Abstract Purpose: Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality among African women. The adoption of molecular genomic technologies in the management of cancer cases is limited in Africa. To provide much-needed insights on the feasibility and utility […]
Cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and clinical presentation in individuals exposed to endemic malaria
We are pleased to share a paper from our first research collaboration with West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) – University of Ghana, where we explored the link between malaria and lower COVID-19 deaths in Africa. This project is supported by Google, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation.
Clinical disease activity in autoimmune rheumatic patients receiving COVID-19 vaccines
Our research on the COURAGE cohort of our Heritage Study has been published in BMC Rheumatology! The COvid-19 vaccine immUne Response in Autoimmune rheumatic patients: a Ghanaian Experience (COURAGE) study, led by Dr. Ida Dzifa Dey, followed 38 patients with Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over 12 months at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, to access changes in clinical disease activity following COVID-19 vaccination, and to understand vaccine immune response in this subset.
Radiologic patterns of distant organ metastasis in advanced breast cancer patients
Breast cancer (BC) metastases to the abdomen and pelvis affect the liver, mesentery, retroperitoneum, peritoneum, bladder, kidney, ovary, and uterus. The study documented the radiological pattern and features of the chest, bone, abdominal and pelvic (AP) metastases among advanced breast cancer patients.