BioStruct-Africa’s capacity building workshops as a model for advancing the emerging community of structural biologists in Africa

Structural biology is crucial in understanding disease mechanisms and in driving drug and vaccine development—applications that are particularly relevant to Africa’s challenges—yet Africa faces significant barriers to advancing structural biology. Here, the authors outline a recent capacity building workshop run by BioStruct-Africa, focused on training of artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold, designed to foster a highly skilled community of structural biologists in Africa. Structural biology is crucial in understanding disease mechanisms and in driving drug and vaccine development—applications that are particularly relevant to Africa’s challenges—yet Africa faces significant barriers to advancing structural biology. Here, the authors outline a recent capacity building workshop run by BioStruct-Africa, focused on training of artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold, designed to foster a highly skilled community of structural biologists in Africa.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communications Chemistry
Published
2025-04-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01519-w
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.61

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article

BioStruct-Africa’s capacity building workshops as a model for advancing the emerging community of structural biologists in Africa

Safiétou Sankhe, Nicolas Rüffin, Mersimine Kouamo, Chi Tchampo Fru et al.
2 citations
Communications Chemistry
Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
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article

BioStruct-Africa’s capacity building workshops as a model for advancing the emerging community of structural biologists in Africa

Safiétou Sankhe, Nicolas Rüffin, Mersimine Kouamo, Chi Tchampo Fru, Arnaud Tepa, Oludare M. Ogunyemi, Piotr Sliz, Julia J. Griese, Aurélien F. A. Moumbock, J. Johnson, Emmanuel Nji, Katharina Cramer, Fatoumata FOFANA, Michel Fodje, Jamaine Davis, Nelly M.T. Tatchou-Nebangwa, Koloko Brice Landry, Walid Heiba, Claire V Tchuenguia, Desmon T Tsafack, Tessy-Koko Kulu-Abi, Ivana Ngounou, Toussaint S D Sovegnon, Rolin Mitterran N Kamga, Yeshimebet C Getahun, Louise Djapgne, Kabo Masisi, Irene Muiruri, Eunice A Abaah
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Structural biology is crucial in understanding disease mechanisms and in driving drug and vaccine development—applications that are particularly relevant to Africa’s challenges—yet Africa faces significant barriers to advancing structural biology. Here, the authors outline a recent capacity building workshop run by BioStruct-Africa, focused on training of artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold, designed to foster a highly skilled community of structural biologists in Africa. Structural biology is crucial in understanding disease mechanisms and in driving drug and vaccine development—applications that are particularly relevant to Africa’s challenges—yet Africa faces significant barriers to advancing structural biology. Here, the authors outline a recent capacity building workshop run by BioStruct-Africa, focused on training of artificial intelligence tools such as AlphaFold, designed to foster a highly skilled community of structural biologists in Africa.

Communications ChemistryVol. 8(1)
Meharry Medical College (US), Uppsala University (SE), Boston Children's Hospital (US), Université de Yaoundé I (CM), Harvard University (US), Kenyatta University (KE), University of Freiburg (DE), University of Douala (CM), Université de Dschang (CM), University of Ibadan (NG), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BW), University of Bamenda (CM), Federal University Otuoke (NG), Kumasi Technical University (GH), Diamond Light Source (GB), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (GH), University of Bamako (ML), ProterixBio (United States) (US), Schiller International University (DE), Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (ML), Centre Pasteur du Cameroun (CM), Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (CM), Université d'Abomey-Calavi (BJ), Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (ET), Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (CM), Institut Pasteur de Dakar (SN), National Bioproducts Institute (South Africa) (ZA), Centre for Schistosomiasis & Parasitology (CM), Canadian Light Source (Canada) (CA), Alexandria University (EG)
Wellcome, Google, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Wellcome Trust, Company of Biologists, Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Vetenskapsrådet, Université de Fribourg, Alexandria University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Directorate for Biological Sciences
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
1.61
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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