The Development of Computational Biology in South Africa: Successes Achieved and Lessons Learnt

Nicola J Mulder, Alan Christoffels, Tulio de Oliveira, Junaid Gamieldien, Scott Hazelhurst, Fourie Joubert, Judit Kumuthini, Ché S Pillay, Jacky L Snoep, Özlem Tastan Bishop and Nicki Tiffin

PLOS Computational Biology, 2016, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: Bioinformatics is now a critical skill in many research and commercial environments as biological data are increasing in both size and complexity. South African researchers recognized this need in the mid-1990s and responded by working with the government as well as international bodies to develop initiatives to build bioinformatics capacity in the country. Significant injections of support from these bodies provided a springboard for the establishment of computational biology units at multiple universities throughout the country, which took on teaching, basic research and support roles. Several challenges were encountered, for example with unreliability of funding, lack of skills, and lack of infrastructure. However, the bioinformatics community worked together to overcome these, and South Africa is now arguably the leading country in bioinformatics on the African continent. Here we discuss how the discipline developed in the country, highlighting the challenges, successes, and lessons learnt.

Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pcbi00:1004395

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004395

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