Genomic Sequencing and Bioinformatics
Compiled By Mekonnen Teshome
(Addis Ababa) : A newly established integrated pathogen Genomic Sequencing and Bioinformatics core laboratory of the the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) was launched Tuesday at the premises of the institute.
Speaking at the launching of the facility State Minister of Health Dr. Ayele Teshome said that the opening of the facility can be of great help to the health sector, and the establishment of the unit will enable the country to strengthen public health measures at the national level through analysis of sequencings, interpretation of data and sharing of information, EPHI reported.
The State Minister pointed out that the center will have a contribution of efficient use of resources, equipment and human resources at the national level. It will also play a critical role in developing strong technical capacity at all levels and to save costs, and to carry out national pathological monitoring and the state Minister added.
Sequencing and bioinformatics Key to generate genomic knowledge
Director General of the Ethiopian Institute of Public Health Dr. Mesay Hailu, on his part said that the EPHI is aspiring to be a genetics and bioinformatics center of excellence and pointed out that in the future, various activities will be carried out to develop a pathogen genomics monitoring system and generate genomics knowledge by the institute.
The Director General also thanked the Ministry of Health, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa University and other local and international partner institutions for their support to realize the establishment of the facility.
Major activities of the institute include enhancing and maintaining the capacity to prevent pathogenic diseases in Ethiopia as well as to provide reliable, quality and up-to-date information on public health risks, he said.
Dr. Atsbeha Gebreegziabxier, a researcher of the newly established genomic sequencing and bioinformatics core laboratory facility, also indicated that EPHI has been strengthening the national pathogen and bioinformatics capacity through the development of Surveillance and research Strategy and the establishment of the new facility is one of the initiatives of this national strategy.
“The establishment of EPHI’s Genomics and Bioinformatics core facility for surveillance and research will be a one step forward in our effort to strengthen genomic surveillance and research in Ethiopia and across the region,” Dr. Atsbeha underscores.
In connection with the launching of the facility, the US Embassy in Addis Ababa said that the CDC has been a consistent supporter of the Integrated Pathogen Genomic and Bioinformatics Facility at EPHI, providing technical and financial assistance for establishing pathogen genomic sequencing capacity through implementing partners such as OSU and ASLM, as well as direct support to EPHI.
Dr. Daniel Garcia, CDC Ethiopia’s Associate Director for Laboratory, emphasized the importance of every country having an Integrated Genomic Sequencing Facility for early detection and response to public health emergencies, it reported.
“Genomic sequencing, a powerful tool in laboratory science and public health, is crucial for generating genomic knowledge to make informed decisions and enhance public health responses.”
The USG commits to ongoing collaboration with EPHI, aiming to build a resilient and sustainable system by leveraging Pathogen Genomics to inform public health decision-making and address emerging needs in the future.
Role of Genomic Sequencing
At the occasion, the laboratory showcased some of the integrated genetic testing and bioinformatics strategy of infectious disease vectors used for disease screening and its researches, and various research articles related to pathogen were also presented in the side forum and professional discussions were held. A tour of the Pathogen Genomics Institute was also conducted.
Bioinformatics is used in a variety of genomic tests, but it is useful in genome sequencing owing to the amount of data that is generated from a person’s genome.
After a sample has been collected from a patient and their DNA has been extracted, it will be sequenced by a machine to produce a set of data files. This process leads to bioinformatics and data analysis.
The bio-data is filtered and analyzed by bioinformaticians in pipelines, each with a different and specialised series of steps, depending on the clinical question and the type of sample that has been sequenced.