H3Africa Collaborative Research Center

Eyes of Africa: The Genetics of Blindness 

The Goal: To understand the genetics of glaucoma in Africans and to use this knowledge to develop and inform Africans of novel treatment strategies.

Project Leads

Dr. Adeyinka Ashaye

University of Ibadan


Dr. Chimdi Chuka-Okosa

University of Nigeria


Dr. Naa Naamuah M. Tagoe

University of Ghana Medical School


Dr. Joseph Matiya Msosa

Lions Sight-First Eye Hospital


Dr. Chinedu Anthony Okeke

Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital


Dr. Stephen Cook

The Eye Center


Dr. Michael Hauser

Duke University


The Problem

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common single cause of permanent blindness in Africa. Progressive vision loss associated with POAG can go unnoticed by the patient until it reaches advanced stages, and treatment strategies are not robust or widely available. Furthermore, POAG is more clinically aggressive and occurs at an earlier age in African populations compared to other populations. Finally, glaucoma and blindness are highly stigmatized within local communities, placing a social burden on those affected and their families.

Project Strategy

  1. Collect DNA samples from 8,000 healthy and affected individuals (and their families) from six recruitment sites across the continent.
  2. Analyze and compare these samples to determine how one’s genes affect their risk of being affected by glaucoma to inform novel treatment strategies.
  3. Engage communities to educate Africans on how glaucoma affects one’s vision and when to visit an eye doctor, encouraging affected individuals to begin treatment sooner to mitigate the impact of the disease.

Outcomes & Impact

Genetics of glaucoma: Analysis of 4,000 archival DNA samples identified APBB2, a new genetic risk factor for glaucoma that is found only in individuals of African ancestry. This risk factor is also involved in Alzheimer’s disease, raising the possibility of new treatments that could help patients with both diseases. The researchers have now collected an additional 6,500 samples that are being analyzed in order to replicate and extend these findings. They plan to complete collection of the planned 8,000 samples by the end of the project.

Baseline Clinical Data: Many ocular measurements have been collected on African glaucoma patients as well as healthy controls, and this data will lead to improved diagnosis and characterization of glaucoma.

Community Engagement: Multiple community engagement and educational meetings have been conducted, and the results of these meetings are published.

Capacity Building: Multiple eye clinics have received state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment which is improving patient care.

Education: Education and training builds future research capacity.  Many clinical staff have been trained in patient care, and the project statistician has learned modern genetic analysis.

Sustainability: Thousands of plasma samples have been collected, and can be used in the future to identify metabolomic and environmental risk factors in glaucoma. Two new NIH-funded grants include the Eyes of Africa data and personnel. A scientific advisory board for this project has been established.

Project Sites

A: Nigeria
University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital

B: Ghana
Lions International Eye Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

C: South Africa
The Eye Centre

D: Malawi
Lions Sight-First Eye Hospital

Non-African Collaborators:
USA: Duke University

Funding

This work is supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director (OD), the National Eye Institute (NEI), and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) grant number U54HG009826.
May 21, 2021

Eyes of Africa

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest genetic disorder in the World. It is most prevalent in Africa. We have established SickleGenAfrica:Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of Africa to build capacity locally to enable African scientists study genomics of SCD on the continent
January 29, 2021

H3ABioNet

AWI-Gen is the Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic Studies, an NIH funded and university supported Collaborative Center of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa
January 29, 2021

H3Africa Administrative Coordinating Center (H3ACC)

AWI-Gen is the Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic Studies, an NIH funded and university supported Collaborative Center of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa
September 14, 2020

Center for Research on the Respiratory Microbiota of African Children (ReMAC)

Center for Research on the Respiratory Microbiota of African Children (ReMAC): Abstract The microbiota (community of microorganisms) of the upper airways plays a key role in the development of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children. Most of the important bacterial LRTI pathogens also colonize the
August 18, 2020

African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME)

The African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME) leverages advanced research methods, technologies and international partnerships to engage African scientists
August 5, 2020

Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of Africa (SickleGenAfrica)

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the commonest genetic disorder in the World. It is most prevalent in Africa. We have established SickleGenAfrica:Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of Africa to build capacity locally to enable African scientists study genomics of SCD on the continent
August 4, 2020

Collaborative African Genomics Network (CAfGEN)

Advanced genetic and genomic technologies promise to transform our understanding and approach to human health and disease. Such genomic analyses are now common in Western populations of European descent.
August 4, 2020

Africa Wits-INDEPTH Partnership for Genomic Research (AWI-Gen)

AWI-Gen is the Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic Studies, an NIH funded and university supported Collaborative Center of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa
May 15, 2020

H3Africa Kidney Disease Research Network (H3AKDRN)

H3AKDRN aims to investigate genetic and environmental factors leading to Chronic Kidney Disease across Africa to inform novel prevention and treatment strategies.