Diabetes is a growing problem in South Africa, but South African Indians are at three times the risk of other race groups. What is more, Diabetes and Ischaemic Heart disease occur at least a decade younger in Indians than in other populations in South Africa. Both these diseases are the leading cause of death within the Indian population. Apart from poor diet and exercise there is a genetic component that leads to increased disease risk.
Decoding the South African Indian Genome for Health Risk is an initiative that aims to produce and analyze whole genomes in order to understand the genetic basis of Diabetes and Heart disease. The objective is to promote awareness of the leading causes of mortality in South African and provide the opportunity for individuals, business and funders to make contributions to this medical research project.
As part of the initiative, we are organising a Business Breakfast Event on the 19th July (Sponsored by Standard Bank and Coastland Hotels). Our keynote speaker will be PROF. SALIM ABDOOL KARIM, who is a clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist who is widely recognised as one of the most eminent scientists in South Africa. He is Director of CAPRISA, a Professor of Global Health atColumbia University, USA and a fellow of the Royal Society in the UK.
We would like to invite all who are interested in contributing to this project to attend the our event on the 19thJuly at the Coastlands Hotel, Musgrave, Durban, South Africa. The business breakfast is funded by Standard Bank, UKZN Foundation and Coastlands. More info and RSVP on +27 31 260 4898 or in the following link (booking is essential).
The decoding the SA Indian genome for health risk is an initiative of Genomics Africa and KRISP
News date: 2019-07-19
Links:
http://genomics.africa/2019/06/08/decoding-the-south-african-indian-genome/
KRISP has been created by the coordinated effort of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African Medical Research Countil (SAMRC).
Location: K-RITH Tower Building
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, UKZN
719 Umbilo Road, Durban, South Africa.
Director: Prof. Tulio de Oliveira