BioStruct-Africa’s scalable framework for AlphaFold-enabled research training and sustainable workforce development in Africa
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming structural biology and accelerating access to protein structures, yet many Africa-based scientists still lack infrastructure, training opportunities, and sustained mentorship to fully benefit. Here, we describe BioStruct-Africa’s community-driven framework integrating AlphaFold, experimental structural biology, and computational drug design to train 1000 scientists over the next decade.
Authors
- Safiétou Sankhe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8559-2161)
- Mama Ndi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6460-0783)
- Nicolas Rüffin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9038-8878)
- Henry Ssenfuka
- Itziar Serna Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0305-0057)
- Calvin Tiengwe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3742-6502)
- Oudou DIABATE
- David O. Nkwe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6673-5980)
- Peris Ambala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5113-7643)
- Julia J. Griese (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3686-3062)
- Aurélien F. A. Moumbock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6034-2016)
- Omorede Ikponmwosa-Eweka
- Blessing B Ekpenyong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6225-0204)
- Ifeoluwa O Bejide (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8263-9064)
- Emmanuel Chukwudalu Ohaekenyem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5730-4422)
- Emmanuel Nji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6991-1046)
- Katharina Cramer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1031-5888)
- Sunday Cecilia James
- Thoko Ndaba
- Jamaine Davis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5078-1306)
- Andrew Walakira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3651-2679)
- Abdoulaye Segda
- Appolinaire Djikeng
- Linda O. Lazaro
- Yao Nasser
- Aliyi Hassen Jarso
- Nsubuga Moses Luutu
- Vanessa Brigitte Ngannang-Fezeu
- Walid Heiba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0458-3373)
- Justice Ohene Amofa
- Yohana Amos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5968-0489)
- Eva Akurut
- Woutouoba Ntieche David
- Kaddu Arafat
- Alphonse G. Tandja
- Walter Odur
- Ermias M. Terefe
- Udokang G. Jonah
- Oladokun F. Omowumi
- Michel Fodje
- Aminata Ndiaye
- Bernard Mware
- Ahmed H. Abdellatif
- Pierre F. R. Magwell
- Regan M. Nyoni
- Cedric Yamssi
- Nehemiah K. Essilfie
- Noella A. Okumu
- Oluwatodimu C. Tougue
- James J. Wabwile
- Anita Y. Nelson
- Zipporah B. Richard
- Courage Chandipwisa
- Stany L. Tsomene
- Hakiimu Kawalya
- Mulatu M. Yadeta
- Alyaa Elrashedy
- Moses Ohene
- Juergen George
- Carlos S. D. Tagne
- Oumar Ndiaye
- Racheal C. Kyomukama
- Isaac E. Omara
- Doaa S. Soliman
- Kevin C. Nabukeera
- Agatha K. Nyang’au
- Mohamed El-Sayed Ali Sedeek
- InnocentMary I. Ejiofor
- Patrick Y. Osabutey
- Laurah N. Ondari
- Tolulope F. Jolaiya
- Washingtone J. Adundo
- Fatoumata G. Fofana
- Abdoul K. Kone
- Osim P. Bassey
- Christelle A. Amoussou
- Angelo K. B. Kouman
- Rossel A. Oketch
- Harrison Banda
- Yaser M. Hassan
Institutions
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Kumasi Technical University (GH)
- Diamond Light Source (GB)
- ProterixBio (United States) (US)
- Farm Africa Kenya (KE)
- Schiller International University (DE)
- Amref Health Africa (KE)
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Netherlands) (NL)
- Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (ML)
- Infectious Diseases Institute (UG)
- Health Solutions (Sweden) (SE)
- Institute of Clinical Research (US)
- Institut Pasteur de Dakar (SN)
- National Bioproducts Institute (South Africa) (ZA)
- Centre for Schistosomiasis & Parasitology (CM)
- African Field Epidemiology Network (UG)
- Belmont University (US)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- International Livestock Research Institute (KE)
- Makerere University (UG)
- Canadian Light Source (Canada) (CA)
- Alexandria University (EG)
- Technische Universität Braunschweig (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2026-02-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-09711-x
- Primary Topic
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- DeepMind
- Company of Biologists
- Vetenskapsrådet
- International Livestock Research Institute