Special Issue “OMICS IN AFRICA”: Power to the People—Moving 21st Century Integrative Biology from Lab to Village to Innovation Ecosystems

A Salute to African Science

Africa is the cradle of mankind. African science and knowledge-based innovation are central to a deep understanding of pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of human diseases, discovery and development of novel diagnostics, as well as ecosystem health (Roetz and Warnich, 2013; Rotimi, 2012).

The “OMICS IN AFRICA” special issue in July is a precious contribution to 21^st century life sciences, medicine, and global health. The issue presents a timely sample of cutting edge research from Africa, and brings about diverse perspectives emerging from lab-to-society that will collectively inform how best to design and sustain a robust innovation ecosystem in Africa.

Cultivating 21^st Century Integrative Biology in Africa

More than a decade ago, OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology began publishing rigorously peer-reviewed and forward-looking progressive research that addresses salient questions in life sciences with omics technologies. But our editorial mandate is not limited to data-intensive technologies such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Another and equally important focus is integrative biology and socio-technical synthesis of the diverse strands of post-genomics scientific knowledge for 21st century medicine and life sciences.

Oftentimes, as a scientific community we face deep “know/do” gaps despite the availability of valid scientific knowledge. The journal's knowledge integration mandate thus advances systems-oriented omics science and technology and innovations that are situated in their societal and political science contexts. The mandate also helps bridge the current know/do gaps that cannot be addressed by new molecular research alone. A lab-to-clinic-to-society integrated approach, embedded in an equitable, transparent, and ethical innovation ecosystem governed by sound national and international innovation policies, is a robust strategy to foster 21^st century science that can benefit all (Dove and Özdemir, 2013; 2014a; Haffeld and Siem, 2013). We are cognizant that scientific knowledge is a co-product of both technology as well as social and political systems and forces that often remain unchecked in scientific discourse. The journal thus aims for “triple triangulation,” reporting on the biological, social, and political determinants of postgenomics medicine and integrative biology, from around the world (Özdemir, 2013; Özdemir et al., 2014).

With this in mind, the OMICS IN AFRICA issue received contributions and interest from authors located in an extremely wide range of geographical locations. In Africa, we received contributions from six countries (Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa, and Zimbabwe), while authors from Australia, Europe, India, South America, and the US offered additional insights on topics impacting Africa (e.g., proteomics study of malaria vectors such as Anopheles gambiae).

ElRabaiky et al. debuts the special issue with a state-of-the-art article on the highly original concept of pharmacomicrobiomics. This new term, coined by the authors in 2010 (Rizkallah et al., 2010), refers to the study of the ways in which the human microbiome variations within and between persons influence the effectiveness and safety of drugs. Their idea is derived from the observation that the microbial cells outnumber human cells by about ten to one, and intersect with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways that determine drug action. The hope is that, through an in-depth study of this abundant community of human-associated microbes, we might be able to better explain (and thus forecast) responses to pharmaceuticals. Building on the findings of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP), the authors outline a thoughtful strategy to exploit the HMP data in relation to pharmaceutical outcomes. The PharmacoMicrobiomics Portal (http://www.pharmacomicrobiomics.org), created as a relational database by the authors, enlists some 70 drug–microbiome interactions (Rizkallah et al., 2012). In resource-limited settings such as Africa, pharmacomicrobiomics can help uncover beneficial and detrimental drug–microbiome interactions within the continent through global collaboration and crowdsourcing. The next question is how best to further implement pharmacomicrobiomics in resource-limited countries. Looking forward, this approach would have broad conceptual appeal for other global health interventions, such as nutrition and vaccines as well. In Africa, traditional knowledge, including local and community knowledge, can be used in conjunction with data collected for pharmacomicrobiomics to help identify treatment applications and priorities. For example, Chataway et al., (2009) note that “[s]pecial attention has been given to traditional knowledge and mechanisms to use this resource as a base for the biotechnology.”

Why is it that despite much research and development, only a relatively miniscule amount of knowledge-based innovation, particularly disruptive innovation, materializes in the current era? In response to this challenging question, Hekim et al. propose an original concept, a Science Peace Corps. Service at the new Corps could entail volunteer work for a minimum of 6 weeks, and up to a maximum of 2 years, for translational research in any region of the world, as a junior or senior scientist. The mission would be to build capacity manifestly for development and peace, instead of the narrow bench-to-bedside model of life science translation. This policy innovation also supports the concept of “one health”—encompassing human, animal, environmental, plant, microbial, ecosystem, and planet health—thus serving as an innovative crosscutting pillar of 21^st century integrative biology. A Science Peace Corps can be a new pathway for “extended peer review” (Guston, 2004; Jasanoff, 2003; Wynne, 2009), and competence in 21^st century science that is locally productive and globally competitive. The bi-directional nature of the proposed Science Peace Corps program between developed and developing countries produces a level playing field for the exchange of expert knowledge and information.

Other original research articles in this special issue cover topics of relevance to Africa, including HIV transmission and epidemiology, maternal health, malaria, common complex diseases such as deafness, and policy action for sickle cell anemia—a disease that is greatly impacting African populations. While we cannot cover all human diseases or ecosystem health issues in one journal issue, the emerging data presented here illustrate the intensive interest in omics and integrative biology research and applications in Africa.

The Way Forward

This ‘OMICS IN AFRICA’ issue is very much in the spirit of the integration we seek to achieve—across biotechnologies, their variegated applications in life sciences, and between technology and global society, so that knowledge-based innovations can responsibly integrate at a community level. On this journey to build a sustainable innovation and knowledge ecosystem in Africa, the past narrow frames of bioethics will not suffice to address the complexities when global science meets the local (glocal) context (Dove and Özdemir, 2014b; Rajan, 2013). Science and emerging technologies would be well-served and more robust in Africa if complemented by a reflexive, nested, and responsible bioethics approach that is cognizant of and integrated with lessons learned from the sociology of bioethics, as suggested by scholars in the field of science and technology studies (De Vries, 2004; Petersen, 2013; Rajan, 2013). Knowledge produced from studies that help to inform understandings of local values, cultural ideals, imaginations, and patient narratives can conceivably be integrated into programs, such as the proposed Science Peace Corps. For socially-relevant science and technology, a greater accountability in production frames, production and use of knowledge in science (Jasanoff, 2003), as well as in bioethics and social sciences (De Vries, 2004; Dove and Özdemir, 2013; 2014a) is crucial.

In the spirit of the global science and development we aimed to contribute through the lens of Africa and African scientists, we dedicate this special issue to the memory of the monumental South African statesman and the inspiring humanitarian leader, Nelson R. Mandela, who passed away on December 5^th, 2013 (Abdool Karim, 2014).