Empowering African Scientists with ADBEx

Objectives

The heart of the problem lies in inequitable use of biological samples and data generated in Africa. Such resources collected from African individuals and populations are often sent out of Africa for storage and analysis, where they may be  used to develop medicines and vaccines that rarely come back to benefit Africans socially or financially. Recognising the need to address this issue, ADBEX approached Hominum with a visionary concept - to create an online marketplace that allows African scientists to access, share, and manage their own biological datasets and samples.

This way, African researchers can retain oversight of the biospecimens and data they have generated, and can negotiate onward sharing and use that ensures benefits reach the African population and research ecosystem that generated those resources.

Another challenge faced by African scientists was the complexity of brokering data sharing agreements. The legal and contractual aspects of such agreements often posed significant barriers for researchers who had limited knowledge in these areas.

Solutions

To address this issue, the ABDEx platform includes a marketplace of datasets and bio-samples, with functionality to connect scientists with resources to those wanting to use them as well as a sophisticated system that automates the creation of data- and biospecimen-sharing agreements. This innovative approach took the burden off scientists, allowing them to focus on their research, ensure ethical and equitable onward use of their data and sample collections, and collaborate with ease.