Neurobiobanking in Africa: accelerating stroke care equity, curation and research - a functional approach

Neurobiobanking—the systematic collection, processing, and storage of central nervous system (CNS) tissues and associated data—holds immense promise for elucidating the genetic, molecular, and environmental determinants of stroke. In Africa, where stroke incidence is rising, age of onset is younger, and outcomes are poorer than in high-income settings, region-specific neurobiologic repositories can drive equitable research and tailored interventions. Despite significant advances through precision healthcare initiatives like H3Africa and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) National Biobank, most countries still grapple with funding shortfalls, infrastructure gaps, trained personnel inadequacy and schismic regulatory frameworks. This focused communication outlines the current visage of neurobiobanking in Africa, showcases its critical role in addressing the continent’s huge stroke burden, and proposes actionable strategies to establish inclusive, ethically governed, and sustainable neurobiobank networks.