Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41974698›Full record

ReviewNature communications2026

Unleashing potential: assessing Africa's readiness for the data science revolution to impact health.

Sumir Panji, Verena Ras, Judy Gichoya, Rolanda Julius, Suresh Maslamoney, Tshiamo Motshegwa, Abdoallah Sharaf, Michelle Skelton, Mahadia Tunga, Nicola Mulder

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Neuropsychiatry genetics in Africa.Nature communications · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sumir Panji *Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Infection, CIDRI-Africa, IDM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0447-0598
Verena Ras *Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Infection, CIDRI-Africa, IDM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3938-7241
Judy GichoyaEmory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1097-316X
Rolanda JuliusComputational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Infection, CIDRI-Africa, IDM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1208-5641
Suresh MaslamoneyComputational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Infection, CIDRI-Africa, IDM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Tshiamo MotshegwaNational Research Foundation (NRF), Pretoria, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6580-3803
Abdoallah SharafSequAna Core Facility, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3436-9290
Michelle SkeltonComputational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Infection, CIDRI-Africa, IDM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Mahadia TungaDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2496-3373
Nicola MulderComputational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Wellcome Discovery Research Platform for Infection, CIDRI-Africa, IDM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. nicola.mulder@uct.ac.za.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4905-0941

Funding

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) INV-058418
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Data Science can revolutionize biomedical sciences, and ultimately, health. However, this relies on core elements, including computing infrastructure, data science skills, and well-curated contextually relevant data, which are limited in low- and middle-income countries. Many big data biomedical projects that have emerged over the last decade have been instrumental in development of datasets, computing infrastructure and skills; yet large disparities remain. Here, we review the data science development within Africa over recent years and identify key gaps and challenges that still hinder its implementation for health. We provide recommendations for establishing a sustainable data science ecosystem within Africa.

Indexed as

Data ScienceAfricaBig DataHumans

Identifiers

PMID41974698
PMCPMC13250160

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.