@article {330093,
	title = {Charting a landmark-driven path forward for population genetics and ancient DNA research in Africa},
	journal = {The American Journal of Human Genetics},
	volume = {111},
	year = {2024},
	note = {<p>doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.05.019</p>
},
	month = {2024/07/11},
	pages = {1243 - 1251},
	abstract = {<p>Population history-focused DNA and ancient DNA (aDNA) research in Africa has dramatically increased in the past decade, enabling increasingly fine-scale investigations into the continent?s past. However, while international interest in human genomics research in Africa grows, major structural barriers limit the ability of African scholars to lead and engage in such research and impede local communities from partnering with researchers and benefitting from research outcomes. Because conversations about research on African people and their past are often held outside Africa and exclude African voices, an important step for African DNA and aDNA research is moving these conversations to the continent. In May 2023 we held the DNAirobi workshop in Nairobi, Kenya and here we synthesize what emerged most prominently in our discussions. We propose an ideal vision for population history-focused DNA and aDNA research in Africa in ten years? time and acknowledge that to realize this future, we need to chart a path connecting a series of ?landmarks? that represent points of consensus in our discussions. These include effective communication across multiple audiences, reframed relationships and capacity building, and action toward structural changes that support science and beyond. We concluded there is no single path to creating an equitable and self-sustaining research ecosystem, but rather many possible routes linking these landmarks. Here we share our diverse perspectives as geneticists, anthropologists, archaeologists, museum curators, and educators to articulate challenges and opportunities for African DNA and aDNA research and share an initial map toward a more inclusive and equitable future.Population history-focused DNA and ancient DNA (aDNA) research in Africa has dramatically increased in the past decade, enabling increasingly fine-scale investigations into the continent?s past. However, while international interest in human genomics research in Africa grows, major structural barriers limit the ability of African scholars to lead and engage in such research and impede local communities from partnering with researchers and benefitting from research outcomes. Because conversations about research on African people and their past are often held outside Africa and exclude African voices, an important step for African DNA and aDNA research is moving these conversations to the continent. In May 2023 we held the DNAirobi workshop in Nairobi, Kenya and here we synthesize what emerged most prominently in our discussions. We propose an ideal vision for population history-focused DNA and aDNA research in Africa in ten years? time and acknowledge that to realize this future, we need to chart a path connecting a series of ?landmarks? that represent points of consensus in our discussions. These include effective communication across multiple audiences, reframed relationships and capacity building, and action toward structural changes that support science and beyond. We concluded there is no single path to creating an equitable and self-sustaining research ecosystem, but rather many possible routes linking these landmarks. Here we share our diverse perspectives as geneticists, anthropologists, archaeologists, museum curators, and educators to articulate challenges and opportunities for African DNA and aDNA research and share an initial map toward a more inclusive and equitable future.</p>
},
	isbn = {0002-9297},
	doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.05.019},
	url = {https://www.cell.com/ajhg/fulltext/S0002-9297\%2824\%2900182-4},
	author = {Sawchuk, Elizabeth A. and Sirak, Kendra A. and Manthi, Fredrick K. and Ndiema, Emmanuel K. and Ogola, Christine A. and Prendergast, Mary E. and Reich, David and Aluvaala, Eva and Ayodo, George and Badji, Lamine and Bird, Nancy and Black, Wendy and Fregel, Rosa and Gachihi, Njeri and Gibbon, Victoria E. and Gidna, Agness and Goldstein, Steven T. and Hamad, Reem and Hassan, Hisham Y. and Hayes, Vanessa M. and Hellenthal, Garrett and Kebede, Solomon and Kurewa, Abdikadir and Kusimba, Chapurukha and Kyazike, Elizabeth and Lane, Paul J. and MacEachern, Scott and Massilani, Diyendo and Mbua, Emma and Morris, Alan G. and Mutinda, Christina and M{\textquoteright}Mbogori, Freda Nkirote and Reynolds, Austin W. and Tishkoff, Sarah and Vilar, Miguel and Yimer, Getnet}
}
