Psychiatric genetics research in Africa: challenges, opportunities and strategic insights from the Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study
The Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study seeks to address the underrepresentation of African populations in psychiatric genomics by investigating the genetic basis of major depressive disorder in three African countries: Ethiopia, Malawi and Nigeria. This Editorial reflects on lessons from project set-up and offers recommendations, highlighting trust, communication, ethical oversight, data tools, workforce training and resource governance.
Authors
- Andrew Mark McIntosh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0198-4588)
- Gerome D. Breen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2053-1792)
- Adeniran Okewole (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1670-8516)
- Taiwo Lateef Sheikh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1415-6554)
- Mary Ramsay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7156-7640)
- Barkot Milkias
- Amelia Catharine Crampin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1513-4330)
- N. Smyth
- Jared G. Maina
- Solomon Teferra
- James Walters (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6980-4053)
Institutions
- Ahmadu Bello University (NG)
- University of Health Science (KH)
- King's College London (GB)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Kamuzu Central Hospital (MW)
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MW)
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (MW)
- Addis Ababa University (ET)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Cardiff University (GB)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The British Journal of Psychiatry
- Published
- 2026-03-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2026.10578
- Primary Topic
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00