Exploring genetic variants and their effects on health in African populations
Official title: Genome-wide characterization of complex variants and their phenotypic effects in African populations
Funded at Covenant University · NIH-10933460 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at unique genetic traits found in African populations to see how they might affect health, with the goal of better understanding diseases that are common in Africa and improving ways to predict health risks for people in these communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Covenant University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ota, NIGERIA) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $249,999 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HG013442-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10933460 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals from African populations who may be at risk for diseases influenced by genetic factors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have African ancestry or those with conditions unrelated to the genetic variants being studied may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the genetic variants that are unique to African populations and how these variants may influence health outcomes. By utilizing advanced genomic datasets from Africa, the project aims to identify complex genetic variants, particularly tandem repeats, that have been overlooked in previous studies focused on non-African populations. The researchers will analyze these variants to uncover their potential links to diseases and improve risk prediction models for health conditions prevalent in Africa. This approach seeks to enhance our understanding of genetic factors that contribute to health disparities in African communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved disease risk prediction and targeted health interventions for African populations.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on genetic variants in non-African populations, this approach focusing on complex variants in African populations is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Covenant University
Ota, Nigeria Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oyelade, Jelili Olanrewaju — Covenant University
- Study coordinator: Oyelade, Jelili Olanrewaju
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.