Addressing infectious diseases in Africa by accelerating drug discovery through data science

TL;DR

This paper explores how data science is helping African scientists tackle infectious diseases by accelerating drug discovery, despite limited resources and infrastructure.

Contribution

The paper highlights novel data science applications in Africa for drug discovery, emphasizing local innovation and impact.

Findings

Data science tools are enabling African researchers to identify new drug targets and predict drug-like molecules.

These approaches are improving clinical trial success rates and preparing for future disease threats.

Case studies demonstrate the growing impact of data science in addressing unmet medical needs on the continent.

Abstract

Despite being rich in natural resources and scientific talent, Africa continues to bear a staggering infectious disease burden. Historically, health innovation on the continent has relied on international funding and has been constrained by limited infrastructure and the emigration of skilled professionals. Data science tools offer a promising alternative, typically requiring fewer costly resources than traditional empirical research, with the potential to empower African scientists to generate tangible and impactful health solutions for the continent. Rapid progress in data science is expected to transform infectious disease research; thus, it is encouraging that numerous African initiatives are already applying data science tools to tackling pressing unmet medical needs, particularly in drug discovery. These efforts include identifying novel therapeutic targets, predicting drug-like molecules and their synthesis, enhancing clinical trial success rates and preparing for future disease threats. This review examines the current landscape of data science in infectious disease drug discovery across Africa.

Turon et al. review the data science and research tool in relation to the heavy burden from infectious diseases, compounded by limited infrastructure in Africa. Data science is emerging as a powerful tool for advancing drug discovery and improving health outcomes across the continent, with promising case studies highlighting its growing impact.

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