Last year, we launched our company with a focus on unlocking the African genome to solve for the dearth of diverse genetic data in global genomics research and innovation in which Africa has been left behind. Even though the African populace harbors the most varied genetic profiles on earth, its potential has been significantly overlooked. We set out to join many other illustrious African scientists to change and impact this.
The heart of our research, development and services company is located in Nigeria and the United States with the goal to use human genetic evidence derived from African populations to improve the development and availability of innovative, medical products for Africans as well as non-Africans. We’ll achieve this goal by leveraging on the skill set of many talented individuals we have come across within the African continent and from around the world. These include individuals skilled in bioinformatics, molecular biology, and prior experience in drug discovery research among many others. It is a wonder that less than 1% of global drug discovery occurs in Africa. This is something we hope we can join the many highly trained professionals in Africa and elsewhere to change.
At 54gene, driving change means focusing on ensuring that the welfare of Africans is not left out of global health developments while also building a long term sustainable business that will contribute to the continent for many years to come. As such, we made the decision to build some of our innovation pipelines on the continent where our resource partners are present. We have also invested (and will continue to invest) in setting up top of the line research infrastructure in Africa, and will work with both private and public sector stakeholders to drive up the knowledge economy. We will also seek to provide affordable health services to patients in Africa as well as work to ensure that patients and communities who contribute within the countries in which we operate get access to innovative medical products and/or benefits resulting from our scientific breakthroughs. This is the vision we are working to achieve.
With our new round of investment, we are happy to welcome partners who share in our vision and who can help us in achieving it. In these trying times of economic and personal upheaval, we do not take the show of support we have received lightly. We are encouraged, more than ever, to continue in our bid to transform genetic information into solutions for improving human health for Africa and beyond. It’s in our DNA.
