Developing biobanking processes for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research in Africa: Experience from the Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer's Disease Diversity in the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (READD‐ADSP)
The Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer's Disease Diversity in the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (READD-ADSP) aims to recruit 5000 African participants (Alzheimer's disease [AD] and cognitively unimpaired controls) to generate genomic and biomarker data to better characterize AD neurobiology in Africa from countries that constitute the African Dementia Consortium (AfDC). Blood samples from study participants are separated into fractions and transported to the African Coordinating Centre (ACC: Ibadan, Nigeria), where DNA extraction and long-term biospecimen storage are carried out. Plasma and DNA aliquots are shipped to the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami (HIHG-UM, Miami, USA) for genotyping, whole genome sequencing, and biomarker analysis. Innovative solutions were devised to mitigate challenges encountered so far. Our biobanking experience in a low-resource setting demonstrates the feasibility of establishing a successful African biobanking network, as an important infrastructure to support Alzheimer's disease and related dementias research in Africa. HIGHLIGHTS: Biobanking is gaining grounds in Africa in studies related to neurological disorders. The Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer's Disease Diversity in the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (READD-ADSP) biobanking network is a new initiative to enhance infrastructure for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) research in Africa through the African Dementia Consortium. The processes of the stepwise creation and development of the READD-ADSP biobanking network have been guided by global best practices and regulatory standards. Challenges were encountered in the process of establishing the READD-ADSP biobank, and home-grown solutions were developed to mitigate the challenges. The READD-ADSP biobanking experience offers lessons to researchers in low-resource settings on how collaborative efforts between the global north and global south enhance cutting-edge team science to tackle ageing-associated brain disorders in low- and middle-income countries.
Authors
- Sunday Adeniyi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3286-9937)
- Osimhiarherhuo Adeleye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8941-7715)
- Patrice Whitehead
- Alfred K. Njamnshi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0052-1511)
- Stella‐Maria Paddick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5409-0879)
- Michelle Nichols (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2078-9649)
- Sudha S. Seshadri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6135-2622)
- Kamada Lwere (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4235-7054)
- Lucius Chidiebere Imoh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7368-2650)
- Oyedunni Arulogun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2173-4682)
- Joshua Odunayo Akinyemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0675-2110)
- Ajibola Tunde Falayi
- Paul Olowoyo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0802-8505)
- Rufus Akinyemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5286-428X)
- Rogers Kamulegeya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7972-3647)
- Samuel Diala
- Adefolakemi Temitope Ogundele
- William Kudzi
- Godwin Osaigbovo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5572-0548)
- Mayowa Ojo Owolabi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1146-3070)
- Jimoh Abdulraheem
- David M. Ndetei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6891-4990)
- Goldie S. Byrd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1057-0261)
- Biniyam A. Ayele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7955-6030)
- Mayowa Ogunronbi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4104-2728)
- Gabriel Ogunde (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6986-964X)
- Olufisayo Elugbadebo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3221-1323)
- Michael L. Cuccaro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4769-0785)
- Emmanuel Iwuozo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2378-3872)
- Jeffery M. Vance (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3815-8199)
- Kolawole Wahab (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2914-1953)
- Kazeem Akinwande (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1472-3344)
- Célia Novela
- Christine Musyimi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8828-2959)
- Richard Boateng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3599-9136)
- Happiness Kumburu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9179-6141)
- Roosevelt Anyanwu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6748-9379)
- Motunrayo Mojoyin Coker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4445-914X)
- Jacob L. McCauley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1805-1733)
- Raj N. Kalaria (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7907-4923)
- Damas Andrea (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1086-430X)
- Judith Boshe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1684-7295)
- Olayemi Balogun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5926-1913)
- Reginald Obiako (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1769-8110)
- Nosakhare Osemwegie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8725-2256)
- Richard Walker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3155-122X)
- Temitope Farombi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9109-7164)
- Albert Akpalu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4802-9852)
- Pascalyne Nyamai
- Tsehayneh Kelemu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9468-9512)
- Pedro Mena (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2150-2977)
- Fred Stephen Sarfo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7274-5093)
- Victoria Mutiso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8395-6707)
- Muhammed Mubashir B Uthman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3012-195X)
- Godwin Ogbole (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0431-7198)
- Thierry Adoukonou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3236-3063)
- Njideka Okubadejo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2975-8803)
- Brian W. Kunkle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9515-5157)
- Olusegun Baiyewu
- Paul Nwani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1665-2738)
- Emmanuel Bhaskar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3524-641X)
- Ernest Nwazor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7950-2449)
- Anthony J. Griswold (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1925-7810)
- Albertino Antonio Moura Damasceno (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0925-494X)
- Margaret A. Pericak‐Vance
- Adesola Ogunniyi
- O. O. Famuyiwa
- Larry D. Adams
- Yared Zenebe
- Jedidiah Ankamah
- Wonder Agudey Doku‐Agama
- Komolafe Benjamin Ige
- Faith Chinaza Ejimkonye
Institutions
- Ahmadu Bello University (NG)
- University of Nairobi (KE)
- World Health Organization - Pakistan (PK)
- Université de Yaoundé I (CM)
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
- Christian Medical College, Vellore (IN)
- Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (NG)
- University of Ibadan (NG)
- Benue State University (NG)
- University of Lagos (NG)
- North Tyneside General Hospital (GB)
- University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (NG)
- Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital (NG)
- University College Hospital, Ibadan (NG)
- Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (GH)
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (GH)
- The University of Dodoma (TZ)
- Afe Babalola University (NG)
- Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (US)
- Université de Parakou (BJ)
- Maputo Central Hospital (MZ)
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation (US)
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (GB)
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (TZ)
- Federal Medical Centre (NG)
- Africa Mental Health Foundation (KE)
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NG)
- Jos University Teaching Hospital (NG)
- Newcastle Hospitals - Campus for Ageing and Vitality (GB)
- University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (NG)
- Addis Ababa University (ET)
- Wake Forest University (US)
- Makerere University (UG)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- Rivers State University (NG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Alzheimer s & Dementia
- Published
- 2025-08-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70559
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Genomics and Rare Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.63
Funders
- Alzheimer's Association
- Global Brain Health Institute
- African Academy of Sciences
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Aging