Abstract:
The translation of genetic research from bench to bedside involves multiple choices
related to clinician-patient shared decision-making, with ethical implications at every step
of the way. Given the evolving evidence base and limited genomic data from African
genomes, we were delighted to receive three reviews, one opinion article, three
perspectives, six original papers, and a brief research report with a checklist for
assessment of the readiness to implement public health genomics. The latter
contribution by Jongeneel et al. included survey results previously generated in
parallel to the development of a framework for implementation of genomic medicine
in Africa, which was published in February 2021 on commission of the African Academy
of Sciences (https://www.aasciences.africa/publications/policy-paper-frameworkimplementation-
genomic-medicine-public-health-africa). The Policy Brief summarized
this framework for personalized genomic medicine as the foundation of the current
translational Research Topic, showcasing collated evidence of applied knowledge in Africa
to enable translation of research into clinical practice, as the study endpoint. The wide
range of methodologies used, and implementation approaches presented, were evaluated
for evidence of transition from population to individualised risk stratification required for
the application of personalised genomic medicine.
