About ABI
The African Bioinformatics Institute is a distributed, continent-wide network dedicated to advancing bioinformatics research, training, and infrastructure across Africa. Established to address the critical underrepresentation of African bioinformatics scientists and data in global life sciences, ABI is building the foundations for sustainable, Africa-led bioinformatics capacity that serves the health, agricultural, and environmental needs of the continent.
What We Do
ABI is a distributed network, anchored by a central Hub and a growing number of sites hosted at African institutions. This enables scalable, regionally grounded collaboration, ensuring that expertise and innovation are developed where they are needed most.
Each site is represented by one or more Group Leaders, senior scientists with an outstanding track record in bioinformatics, and/or Associate Group Leaders, the next generation of leaders in bioinformatics. The ABI Hub serves as the strategic and operational centre, providing coordination, shared infrastructure, and support across the entire network.
As the Institute grows, it will welcome Fellows, offering mentorship pathways and deeper integration into a continent-wide community of practice.
Our Focus Areas
Research
Generating and supporting bioinformatics research that is grounded in African biological data and health realities, with relevance to global scientific challenges.
Training
Expanding African expertise and capacity in bioinformatics and data science, delivering targeted training for researchers, students, and professionals at all career stages.
Community
Connecting bioinformaticians and researchers across Africa and beyond, facilitating knowledge exchange, data sharing, and collaborative problem-solving.
Our Alignment
The ABI’s activities are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and continental development priorities, including pandemic preparedness, One Health approaches, and the principle of African data sovereignty.
Governance
The African Bioinformatics Institute is committed to transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance that reflects the diversity of the continent it serves.
An interim council was established at the first ABI stakeholder meeting, held in Cape Town in January 2025. The council provides strategic leadership as the Institute takes shape, working alongside an independent advisory committee that is currently being established.
Under their guidance, ABI’s strategic plan is being developed to lay the foundation for the Institute’s long-term direction and impact, defining priorities across research, training, community, and infrastructure.
Partners & Funders
ABI recognises that building bioinformatics capacity at continental scale requires sustained collaboration across sectors and borders. We are actively developing partnerships with national, Pan-African, and international organisations, as well as with industry stakeholders, technology providers, and large data-driven projects operating across Africa.
We engage closely with our partners to understand their bioinformatics needs, identify areas for collaboration, and ensure that the ABI’s work delivers meaningful, practical value across the continent.
Our Funders
The African Bioinformatics Institute is generously supported by:
Wellcome Trust (grant 315034/Z/24/Z)
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation (grant 2024-347851 (5022))
Become a Partner
We welcome enquiries from organisations interested in partnering with ABI to advance bioinformatics across Africa. Whether you represent a research institution, a public health agency, an industry body, or an international initiative, we would like to hear from you.
Get in touch at info@bioinformaticsinstitute.africa to explore how we can work together.