1 African Neurobiobank for Precision Stroke Medicine (ELSI Project) U01HG010273 (2018-2022)
The overarching goal of the (ELSI) Project is to identify, examine and develop appropriate approaches to address ELSI issues of stroke biobanking in sub-Saharan. This is a collaborative research and capacity building project involving the recruitments of 3000 participants across seven sites in Nigeria and Ghana, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), USA and Newcastle University. Community-based participatory mixed methods research (CBPR) approach involving the various levels of the social ecological model (SEM): a) individual/patient), b) family/significant other caregiver, c) healthcare providers, organizations and traditional/faith healers, hospital administrators, ethics committee members and d) community to develop intervention tools and platforms was used. We will identify and examine relevant stroke biobanking ELSI issues and develop contextual intervention tools to enhance community understanding and participation in stroke biobanking activities in a way that will facilitate enduring trust, equitable and fair utilization of biobanking resources for genetic and trans-omics research; and build sustainable research, governance and regulatory capacity and careers in biobanking science that will enhance precision stroke medicine.
2 Vascular heAlth, fraiLty and cognItion in Ageing Nigerians sTudy [VALIANT] Project (01/02/2021- 31/02/2022).
VALIANT is a community-based study which involves the recruitment of 1000 older adults (50+ years). The overarching goal of the study is to establish a population-based cohort of older adults (50+ years) and investigate the association of cardiovascular health (CVH) with cognition and frailty longitudinally. This study is being carried in Yemetu community, Ibadan Oyo state and involve the assessment of the cognitive status of the participants using various instruments like MOCA, CSID, IDEA and blood sample collection for laboratory analysis.
3 African Innovative Genetics of Vascular Cognitive Impairment Project. FLR/R1/191813. UK Royal Society/African
The overarching goal of FLAIR is to uncover environmental and genetic factors associated with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in people of African ancestry and strengthen genomic research capacity and infrastructure in Africa. This goal is being pursued under four specific aims and the progress made will be highlighted under these specific aims: 1)To unravel the contributions of traditional and emerging environmental risk factors to the occurrence and trajectory of post-stroke VCI in indigenous Africans 2)To discover common genetic variants associated with post-stroke VCI among indigenous African stroke patients 3)To validate novel variants discovered in Specific Aim 2 above: We will pursue Aim 3 only after Aim 2 is accomplished, 4)To strengthen capacity and infrastructure for genomic data analysis in Africa.
4 Strengthening Stroke Research and Training Capacity in Africa: The UK – Africa Stroke Partnership. GCRF, UK Academy of Medical Sciences (02/11/2020 – 02/11/2021).
Stroke is very costly and often strikes Africans in the prime of life but Africa is sorely lacking in capable researchers and research outputs that can lighten the path to effectively combat stroke. This study aims to strengthen research capacity, services development, training, and advocacy in the contextually unique landscape of Africa with socioeconomic obstacles, cultural barriers, uncoordinated care & shortage of competent health workers. This project will identify gaps, devise, and prioritize innovative solutions to be tested in future implementation research and develop a strategic action plan to improve stroke research, education, services, and policy in Africa towards year 2030.
5 Epigenetics of Cognitive Impairment After Stroke (EpiCogFAST). (2020-2022). FLAIR Collaborative Grant. FCG/R1/201034. UK Royal Society
Worldwide, cognitive impairment and dementia (CID) remains major public health problems with substantial personal, social and economic burden. However, epigenetic contributions to the neurobiology of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia are largely unknown globally, and there are particularly no data among people of African ancestry despite the racial predilection to, higher heritability of, and poorer cognitive outcomes following stroke. This study aims to unravel the novel epigenetic variants in UK Caucasian and indigenous African stroke survivors with potential implications for other global populations of diverse ancestries in future trans-ancestry meta-analyses. Using Epigenome - Wide Association Study (EWAS) data obtained from DNA derived from blood collected during the SIREN and CogFAST study in Nigeria and UK and brain tissue from UK will be analysed for DNA methylation. 20 cases and controls will be selected from each group. Continuous variables will be compared using the Mann–Whitney U test, multivariable generalized linear analysis, or Spearman correlation test for nonparametric samples, using the R software and fine mapping.
6 The Origins of Alzheimer Disease in African Americans. (09/15/2022 – 06/30/2027).
The project aims at recruiting families with at least 2 individuals of African ancestry with Alzheimer diseases as a way to further our understanding of Alzheimer diseases. This study will recruit 100 individuals in Nigeria and Ghana. This study will attempt to unravel the role of genetics, social determinants of health and behavioural causes of cognitive decline among African ancestry. Whole blood sample collected will be processed into their different components (plasma, serum and buffy coats). Genotyping and whole genome sequencing will be used to analyse the DNA extracted from whole blood. In addition, we will carry out a survey to identify and understand key issues related to brain donation among African America. This will be followed by an educative programme to increase consent toward brain tissue donation. This study will test whether loci that modify the risk of AD in African-American (AA) and African (AF)populations are the product of past selection, revealing unique histories that translate into novel, current risk patterns. This study will illuminate the pan-population genetic architecture of AD, enhance our understanding of AD genotype to phenotype correlations, and enhance the design process for druggable targets.
7 Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer’s Disease Diversity Genetic Cohorts in the ADSP (READD – ADSP) (07/01/2022-06/30/2027).
The project aims to build a resource that greatly expands the representation of currently underrepresented African ancestry [(African American (AA) and Africans (AF)] and Hispanics/Latino (HL) individuals in AD genetics studies. This project will help to identify multiple influential genetic mechanisms, expand our understanding of the Alzheimer’s Disease and to broaden the biological scope for developing potential therapies.