AWI-Gen Phase 2 meeting in Accra

Between 22nd and 23rd February, the AWI-Gen Phase 2 research team met in Accra.  The two-day meeting in Accra aimed to review data collection instruments from AWI-Gen Phase 1; discuss project logistics and community engagement for Phase 2; and map a way forward, discussing timelines and role allocation, for Phase 2. The meeting was attended by three health and demographic surveillance system sites – Navrongo (Ghana), Nanoro (Burkina Faso), and Nairobi (Kenya) – the University of Wits, and the two representatives from the INDEPTH Resource and Training Centre. AWI-Gen is the Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic Studies, a Collaborative Center of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Consortium. It examines genomic and environmental factors that interact with individual physiology and behaviours to influence body composition, body fat distribution and cardiometalbolic disease and risk in African populations, with the aim to provide insights and evidence toward effective prevention, treatment and intervention strategies. The project is funded by NIH for $5,131,164 between 2017 and 2022.