Wonkam Ambroise, Kenfack Marcel Azabji, Bigoga Jude, Nkegoum Blaise, Muna Wali
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences-University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
Pan Afr Med J. 2009 Oct 20;3:8. doi: 10.4314/pamj.v3i1.52447.
The conjunction of "hard genetics" research centers, with well established biomedical and bioethics research groups, and the exceptional possibility to hold the 6th annual meeting of the African Society of Human Genetics (AfSHG, 13th-15th March 2009) was an excellent opportunity to get together in synergy the entire Cameroonian "DNA/RNA scientists" . This laid to the foundation of the Cameroonian Society of Human Genetics (CSHG) that was privilege to hold its inaugural meeting in conjunction to the 6th annual meeting of the AfSHG. The theme was "Human Origin, Genetic Diversity and Health". The AfSHG and CSHG invited leading African and international scientists in genomics and population genetics to review recent data and provide an understanding of the state-of-knowledge of Human Origin and Genetic Diversity. Overall one opening ceremony eight session, five keynote and guest speakers, 18 invited oral communications, 13 free oral communications, 43 posters and two social events could summarize the meeting. This year's conference was graced by the presence of one Nobel Prize winner Dr Richard Roberts (Physiology and Medicine 1993). The meeting registered up to ten contributions of Cameroonian scientists from the Diaspora (currently in USA, Belgium, Gambia, Sudan and Zimbabwe). Such Diaspora participation is an opportunity to generate collaborations with home country scientists and ultimately turn the "brain drain" to "brain circulation" that could reduce the impact of the migration of health professional from Africa. Interestingly, the personal implication of the Cameroonian Ministry of Public Heath who opened the meeting in the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education and a representative of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation was a wonderful opportunity for advocacy of genetic issues at the decision-makers level. Beyond our expectation, a major promise of the Cameroonian government was the creation of the National Human Genome Institute. If this goal comes true, this will be a critical step to bring more genetics for the purpose of Public Health to the Cameroonian people. The sub-Saharan African Region needs significant capacity building in the broad area of basic research in general and Genetics (especially Human Genetics) in particular. In that respect, the existence and current activities of the AfSHG and its impact at the National levels in Africa, is a major development for the continent and an initiative that needs further encouragement from the international community.
“硬遗传学”研究中心与成熟的生物医学和生物伦理研究团队相结合，以及举办第六届非洲人类遗传学会年会（2009年3月13日至15日）这一难得机遇，为喀麦隆所有“DNA/RNA科学家”齐聚一堂、协同合作创造了绝佳契机。这为喀麦隆人类遗传学会（CSHG）的成立奠定了基础，该学会有幸在非洲人类遗传学会第六届年会上举行了成立大会。会议主题为“人类起源、遗传多样性与健康”。非洲人类遗传学会和喀麦隆人类遗传学会邀请了非洲和国际上基因组学与群体遗传学领域的顶尖科学家，共同回顾近期数据，并增进对人类起源和遗传多样性知识现状的理解。总体而言，一场开幕式、八场会议、五位主旨演讲嘉宾和特邀嘉宾、18场受邀口头报告、13场自由口头报告、43份海报展示以及两场社交活动可以概括此次会议。今年的会议有幸迎来了一位诺贝尔奖得主理查德·罗伯茨博士（1993年生理学与医学奖）。会议收到了多达十份来自散居海外的喀麦隆科学家（目前在美国、比利时、冈比亚、苏丹和津巴布韦）的投稿。这种散居海外科学家的参与为与祖国科学家开展合作创造了机会，并最终将“人才外流”转变为“人才环流”，从而减轻非洲卫生专业人员迁移带来的影响。有趣的是，喀麦隆公共卫生部部长亲自出席会议，高等教育部秘书长和科研与创新部的一名代表也一同出席，这为在决策者层面宣传遗传问题提供了绝佳契机。出乎我们意料的是，喀麦隆政府做出的一项重要承诺是创建国家人类基因组研究所。如果这一目标得以实现，这将是朝着为喀麦隆人民的公共卫生目的引入更多遗传学知识迈出的关键一步。撒哈拉以南非洲地区在基础研究的广泛领域，尤其是遗传学（特别是人类遗传学）领域，需要大力加强能力建设。在这方面，非洲人类遗传学会的存在及其当前活动以及在非洲国家层面产生的影响，对该大陆而言是一项重大发展，也是一项需要国际社会进一步鼓励的倡议。
