Uganda Government to embrace AI in health research

Speaking at the 15th African Society of Human Genetics and Uganda's 1st Society of Human Genetics and Bioinformatics Conference, Jane Ruth Aceng the minister of health expressed commitment to supporting scientists to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science to address gaps in the healthcare sector. 

The 5-day science conference which started on Monday, is taking place at Speke resort Munyonyo in Kampala under the theme; Harnessing data science and artificial intelligence for African genomics.

Minister Aceng, who was represented by Prof. Moses Joloba, highlighted the government's commitment to establishing a structured framework for integrating AI-driven solutions in the healthcare sector.

"As the minister of health in Uganda, I have witnessed firsthand the immense potential that genomics plays in transforming the healthcare landscape. The ministry, through the central public laboratories and several partners, has prepared a masterplan for implementing genomics in public health with an initial focus on pathogen surveillance and clinical care," Aceng stated.

Genomics is defined as an interdisciplinary field of science that focuses on the structure, function, evolution, mapping and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). 

According to Aceng, there is a need for tailored precision medicine.

"By incorporating genetic data into healthcare systems we can identify individuals at risk and provide personalised and effective treatment. This is crucial for effective management of both infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer," noted the health minister.

Dr. Monica Musenero, the minister for science, technology and innovation concurred that AI has the potential to retrieve genetics and serve the health sector in solving research problems. 

"AI has the potential to enhance and unlock insights of various and vast amounts of genetic data enabling more precise diagnosis, personalised treatments and delivering new therapies," Musenero noted.

Her remarks were delivered by Dr. Cosmas Mwikirize who noted that Africa has the most genetically diverse humans on earth saying, this diversity provides a viable resource for understanding the tenacity basis of diseases. 

"Therefore, studying African genomes can help to identify genetic resistance to diseases and inform breakthroughs in treatment. This is important from the perspective of AI to address potential creeps of biases at the intersection of genomics and artificial intelligence," Musenero remarked.

She further noted that the government has already made significant investments in genomics research. "Three years ago, the government of Uganda reorganised our science, technology and innovation ecosystem. Enormous resources have thus been committed to genomic funding," the minister added. 

"For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital tools helped to streamline, test and track the spreading of the virus and ensured timeline response. It is our responsibility as scientists, researchers and policymakers to shave this path and ensure the genomics plus other digital health technologies thrive in a more meaningful change for Africa's public health," the minister stated.

Prof. Moffat Nyirenda, the director of Medical Research Council (MRC), Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said the key to advancing genomics research in Africa, lies in building strong, sustainable collaborations. 

"With genomics still an underexplored field in Africa, this conference seeks to close the research gap by fostering strategic partnerships and adoption of verifiable data-driven approaches to address health challenges," Nyirenda explained.

The scientific conference ending on February 7, is featuring high-impact discussions on AI and data science in genomics, unlocking new possibilities, disease prediction and drug development as well as strengthening research networks to accelerate discoveries tailored to African populations. 

Over 300 scientists, policymakers and industry experts from across Africa and beyond, are attending the conference.

Officially opening the conference, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe the vice chancellor of Makerere University lauded the organisers saying, it is a landmark event that highlights the critical intersection of genomics and health across the African continent. 

 "I commend the organisers for bringing together such a diverse group of experts, leaders and innovators from across the world," Nawangwe remarked. He intimated that Makerere University has established strong infrastructure for genomic research.