Projects
Ownership of DNA samples stored within the Biobank remains with the contributing/collaborating principal investigator (PI). For access to these samples and associated data, requests are to be made to the Biobank manager, Natalie Smyth, who will liaise with the relevant PI.
| Active studies | Project description | Samples Types |
|---|---|---|
| AWI-Gen 1 | Trait Association Study | DNA, Buffy coat, serum, plasma, urine |
| Population Study | DNA, Buffy coat | |
| National Cancer Registry | Breast cancer | DNA |
| ERICA-SA (Evolving Risk Factors for Cancers in African Populations) | DNA | |
| MADCap | DNA | |
| Ovarian | DNA | |
| Other cancer projects | Confluence | |
| PROMISE | ||
| Childhood Status Epilepticus and Epilepsy Determinants of Outcome (SEED) | SEED | |
| Physiology | HAART | DNA |
| Cardiology | Nqoba | DNA |
| DPHRU | S1000 | DNA |
| Epigenetics | DNA | |
| Wits RHI | ADVANCE | DNA |
| Nephrology | ARK/GSK | DNA, Buffy coat, serum, plasma, urine |
| APOL1 | ||
| The Southern African Human Genome (SAHGP) | SAHGP | |
| Pharmacogenomics | Tamoxifen | Buffy coat, serum, plasma |
| SBIMB | ALTBio | Whole blood, liver tissue |
| AWI-Gen 2 | AWI-Gen 2 | Buffy coat, faecal samples |
| COVIGen SA | COVIGen | DNA |
ALTBio
This project aims to create a liver tissue biorepository in Africa. This will be established to support drug discovery and development and the clinical deployment of medicines that take into account the genomics of people of African ancestry.
AWI-Gen
The Africa Wits INDEPTH partnership for genomic studies is a population cross-sectional study aiming to elucidate the genetic and environmental factors associated with cardiometabolic disease and body composition. 12000 samples were collected across urban and rural sites in 4 African countries namely Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
COVIGenSA
A study on the novel corona virus-host susceptibility.
HAALSI
Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa comprises samples collected from adults aged 40 and over recruited in Agincourt, rural Mpumalanga.
DPHRU
The Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit is based in Baragwanath, Soweto. Multiple projects, the most well-known of which is Birth-to-Twenty, have recruited participants and collected biospecimens for genomic research.
NCR
The National Cancer Registry collects samples purely for cancer research. Currently, samples stored include those for Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Breast Cancer, and Prostate Cancer.
Nephrology (ARK/GSK)
A study on understanding the genetic causes behind kidney disease.
Opthalmology
Ophthalmic genetics looks specifically at families and isolated cases of monogenic eye disorders such as Primary Congenital Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration.
SEED
Childhood Status Epilepticus and Epilepsy Determinants of Outcome (SEED) will develop a large childhood SE cohort with collection and analysis of deep phenotypic data, detailed outcomes, and genomic data. SEED will build upon successful Vanderbilt and Bayero University Kano (BUK) - Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) NIH-funded collaborative projects and Vanderbilt-Wits-Sidney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) collaborations.
Please enquire with Natalie Smyth if you wish to utilize any of the above-mentioned equipment.
Contact Us
For more information please contact the Biobank Research Laboratory:
Laboratory and Biobank Manager:
Ms Natalie Smyth
Tel: +27 11 717 9903
E-mail: Natalie.Smyth@wits.ac.za