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For this assignment, I found myself particularly interested in genetics-related research, specifically the various disparities that exist when it comes to research amongst different socioeconomic groups. This is where I stumbled upon an article from The Guardian US regarding disparities in cancer research in Africa and the negative impact this research deficit has had on African populations. 

The catalyst behind this article came from Ghanaian immunologist Yaw Bediako who noted the magnitude of cancer mortalities in Africa every year, yet the limited existence of scientific papers and research studying it. Of the approximate 240,000 thousand human genomes that have been sequenced, only about 2% of that includes Africans, even though the continent possesses the world’s most diverse genome and makes up about 17% of the population. Genetic sequencing is vital in understanding inheritance patterns of certain diseases (in this case cancer), how different environmental factors affect certain genes, both positively and negatively, but most importantly in understanding and developing possible preventative and responsive treatments for affected individuals (Johnson, 2025). 

This type of information can only come from scientific and genetic research; however, the majority of research, and subsequent data, there is on cancer comes from European populations; this has resulted in drugs and therapies that have not been as effective in non-European populations, especially African ones. Currently, most of scientific research funding and resources in Africa is catered towards clinical trials that are studying infectious diseases, which is of great importance on the continent, but results in scientists not having the “experience or data to support the efficacy of drugs” that would come from processes like genetic sequencing within the affected population (Johnson, 2025). 

There have been many efforts made to bridge this gap in knowledge and resources. Yaw Bediako himself is the co-founder of his own company called Yemacchi Biotech with the primary goal of bridging the research gap between African populations and the rest of the world. Although they have faced challenges they are optimistic about the future of not only their company, but the impact the research could have on the African population and the rest of the world (Johnson, 2025).

In order to review the Guardian article’s accuracy, I found a scientific review article by the journal Frontier that supports it. The basis of the article was research to try and determine the best prevention and treatment options for various different types of cancer, despite the fact that cancer rates and statistics tend to be widely dispersed region to region. From this research they were able to find various prevention and treatment approaches but also heavily noted that the shortage of medical equipment, and most importantly medical research which heavily contributed to the disparities. It was highlighted that due to cancer being a genetically driven disease, along with the various environmental factors that affect it, the deficit in research and equipment makes treatment and prevention increasingly difficult compared to European and North American populations, especially when it comes to early detection of certain cancers.¹ 

References 

¹Abdelhak, S. et al. Cancer in Africa: The Untold Story. Frontier 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.650117 (2021)

Johnson, S. (2025, March 26). ‘The field of human ancestry is rife with racism’: pioneering project to build cancer database in Africa. The Guardian US. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/mar/26/yemaachi-biotech-pioneering-genomic-cancer-atlas-research-dna-africa