The Centre Nacional d’Anàlisi Genòmica (CNAG) has recently joined the Cluster of Research Excellence – Genomics for Health in Africa (CoRE-GHA), a consortium of leading research institutions from the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities. Its main mission is to harness the power of genomics to transform healthcare across Africa, an objective that aligns closely with CNAG’s strategic goals of promoting equitable access to genomic medicine, expanding collaborative networks, and fostering meaningful contributions to international rare disease research and capacity building.

 

 

CNAG’s involvement in CoRE-GHA is led by Dr Pedro Rodríguez, Clinical Genomics Specialist, who was recognised for his work in Africa with The President's Prize for the Emerging Myologist of the Year. Dr Rodríguez coordinates the SENEGENE project, a non-profit initiative aimed at advancing the understanding of rare genetic diseases in Senegal and West Africa. Supported by foundations such as La Caixa, AFM-Téléthon, and The National Ataxia Foundation, SENEGENE exemplifies CNAG’s commitment to global health equity and capacity building on the African continent.

 
 
"It is a privilege for CNAG to be part of CoRE-Genomics for Health in Africa," says Dr Pedro Rodríguez. "This membership allows us to bring the benefits of genomics to healthcare in Africa, supporting the development of local expertise and research capacity in the region, and contributing to the advancement of personalised medicine worldwide."
 
 
Through CNAG’s long-standing partnerships with Senegalese institutions, including the University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar and major hospitals in Dakar, CNAG brings direct access to rare disease cohorts and clinical networks in West Africa to the CoRE-GHA network. Furthermore, CNAG’s expertise in genomic data generation, analysis, and interpretation offers a vital bridge between clinical needs and cutting-edge research. The RD-Connect Genome-Phenome Analysis Platform (GPAP), developed and hosted at CNAG, will also facilitate secure genome–phenome data sharing and collaborative research among consortium members.
 
 
Other CNAG team members actively involved in CoRE-GHA include Dr Sergi Beltran, Head of the Bioinformatics Unit; Dr Leslie Matalonga, Clinical Genomics Manager; and Dr Mònica Bayés, PhD, Strategy Coordinator and institutional contact for the consortium. Their combined expertise in bioinformatics, clinical genomics, and strategic planning further strengthens CNAG’s contribution to the collaborative goals of CoRE-GHA.
 
 
 
 
 
Photo Credit: Marta Moreiras. Published in El País. Neurologist Pedro Rodríguez Cruz informs Babacar Diaw and his three daughters about the illness affecting little Soda (in the center of the three) during his consultation at Fann Hospital in Dakar. Diaw, a 59-year-old farmer, lives with his family in the village of Keur Madiabel, in the Kaolack region of Senegal. A couple of years ago, little Soda began having trouble holding objects. She suffers from a rare disease, Brown-Vialetto-Van Laere syndrome.
Figure: Members of the Consortium Genomics for Health in Africa.