A platform for sharing and analyzing health data in Africa
Official title: eLwazi Open Data Science Platform and Coordinating Center
Funded at University of Cape Town · NIH-10928251 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new platform to help researchers in Africa share and analyze health data more easily, while also providing training and support to boost local expertise, all with the goal of discovering new ways to improve health in communities across the continent.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cape Town NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rondebosch, South Africa) |
| Project start | September 20, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,205,339 |
| NIH project number | 5U2CEB032224-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928251 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include researchers and healthcare professionals working in African biomedical fields who require access to shared data and analytical tools.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in research or do not have access to the necessary technology for data sharing may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating the Open Data Science Platform (ODSP) and Coordinating Center (CC) to enhance data sharing and analysis across Africa. It aims to develop a flexible and scalable platform that allows researchers to deposit, access, and analyze health-related data using various tools tailored for the African context. The project will also provide training and support for data science professionals, fostering collaboration and capacity building in biomedical research. By leveraging existing partnerships and expertise, the initiative seeks to facilitate novel health discoveries that can benefit communities across the continent.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve health outcomes in Africa by enabling better data-driven decision-making and fostering innovative health solutions.
How similar studies have gone: Similar initiatives in data sharing and informatics have shown success in enhancing research collaboration and health outcomes, indicating a promising potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cape Town
Rondebosch, South Africa Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mulder, Nicola — University of Cape Town
- Study coordinator: Mulder, Nicola
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
African Genomics Data Hub: a centralized, well-organized home for African ancestry genetic data
A project to create a centralized, high-quality resource of genomic data from people of African ancestry to help researchers and clinicians worldwide.
-
ADHD in Kenya and South Africa: genetic and clinical profiling in children
A study will enroll 6,000 children in Kenya and South Africa to collect detailed clinical data and DNA to better understand ADHD.
-
Early brain development in kids of mothers with depression in different income settings
This grant follows children up to age 6 to see how early brain growth varies for those born to mothers with depression, comparing high- and low-income settings in Africa.
-
University of Cape Town HIV and TB Clinical Trials Unit
This program runs clinical trials of new and improved HIV and tuberculosis treatments and prevention methods for people living in and around Cape Town, South Africa.
-
How people in Africa understand big data in genetic medicine
This project will learn what adults in Africa, including people with adult-onset diabetes, think and feel about using large genetic datasets for health care and research.
-
How long BCG vaccine protection in the lungs and blood lasts against tuberculosis infection
This project compares how long immune responses in the blood and lungs from BCG revaccination protect adolescents from becoming infected with tuberculosis.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.