African-focused health teach genomics and start-up, 54gene, has raised $4.5million seed with participation of Y Combinator, Fifty Years, Better Ventures, KdT Ventures, Hack VC and Techammer, among others.
The early-stage investment will enable the young firm to pioneer and build the world’s first African DNA biobank, install electronic data capture systems in leading tertiary hospitals and expand its teams both in the United States (U.S) and Nigeria.
As of 2018, only two per cent of the data used in Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) were of African ancestry. 54gene is now positioned to build the largest database of genomic and phenotypic consented data of Africans.
The unique data sets will be used exclusively for research; to proactively address the significant gap the genomics market currently poses for Africa, using African DNA to focus on drug discovery opportunities that will improve access.
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