Focusing attention on ancestral diversity within genomics research: a potential means for promoting equity in the provision of genomics based healthcare services in developing countries

Open Access

Abstract

Although we are well into the second decade after the completion of the International Human Genome Project, genomic research has failed to fully represent the diverse ancestry of global populations. The resultant healthcare challenges faced by populations underrepresented in genomic research needs to be tackled by the global scientific community. In this paper, we address several major factors which have contributed to the existing health disparity and put forward a combination of scientific and political interventions needed to bring about a change that will ensure all global populations benefit equally from the advances made in genomic medicine and research.