News and updates
The latest updates, announcements, and stories from the African Bioinformatics Institute and the broader bioinformatics community across Africa. From open calls and partnership announcements to event reports and research highlights, this is your central source for everything happening at the ABI.
Building Connections Across Genetics and Bioinformatics: ABI at SASBi–SAGS BIO2026
The SASBi–SAGS 2026 conferences brought together students, researchers and professionals working across genetics, genomics and bioinformatics, creating a space for scientific exchange and new connections.
From Data to Discovery: APBA and ABI Bring African Plant Breeders Together for an Agri-Informatics Hackathon in Cape Town
The African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI), in partnership with the African Plant Breeders Association (APBA), recently hosted the APBA/ABI Joint Agri-Informatics Bring Your Own Data (BYOD) Hackathon, bringing together plant breeders, researchers and bioinformatics experts for five days of intensive, hands-on data analysis and collaborative learning.
Harnessing Plant Genomics for Africa’s Crops: ABI Supports Plant Pangenome Workshop
How can genomics help develop crops that are more productive, resilient and suited to Africa’s diverse growing environments? This was at the heart of the Plant Pangenome Workshop, held from 31 August to 4 September 2026 at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Building Skills, Confidence and Connections: The Inaugural ABI Bioinformatics Summer School in Uganda
Thirty researchers from across Africa came together in Kampala for two weeks of intensive, hands-on bioinformatics training as the African Bioinformatics Institute hosted its inaugural Bioinformatics Summer School in Uganda.
ABI connects with Africa’s landscape genomics community at ALGAC 2026
Hosted by Tshwane University of Technology, ALGAC brought together researchers, students, and organisations working across a diverse range of genomic disciplines, spanning plants, animals, microbes, pathogens, and environmental systems.
Strengthening Africa’s Genomics Ecosystem: ABI at the CoGSAYR Africa Summit 2026
More than 200 young scientists, researchers and established experts gathered in Lagos, Nigeria, for the CoGSAYR Africa Summit 2026 (29-31 January), united by a shared ambition: to advance genomics and bioinformatics across Africa.
ABI Partners in £10M GEN-IMPACT Africa-Led Genomics Programme
The African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI) is a partner alongside the African Population Cohorts Consortium (APCC) and the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), in GEN-IMPACT
Building Tunisia’s Bioinformatics Community: ABI Supports First Tunisian Bioinformatics Conference
The first Tunisian Bioinformatics Conference, held from 26–29 October 2025 in Sousse, marked an important milestone for Tunisia’s growing bioinformatics community.
Call for Applications: ABI Group Leaders
The African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI) is now accepting applications for Group Leaders. These positions are open to senior bioinformatics researchers
Showcasing the African Bioinformatics Institute at the DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting
On 28 August 2025, the African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI) held a showcase session at the 5th Annual DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting, hosted at the CEDI Conference Centre at the University of Ghana in Accra.
PRESS RELEASES
- https://wellcome.org/news/were-establishing-new-institute-advance-genomics-africa
- https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7250174207903379458/
- https://www.sib.swiss/news/sib-contributes-to-launching-the-african-bioinformatics-institute
- https://www.fundsbeeline.com/news/readnews/African-Bioinformatics-Institute-Launched-to-Revolutionize-Genomics-Research-in-Africa
- African scientists launch the African Bioinformatics Institute (06 June 2025) – https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2025-06-06-african-scientists-launch-the-african-bioinformatics-institute
- https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-africa-partnerships-2025-6-this-is-about-long-term-african-data-ownership
- https://scienceforafrica.foundation/media-center/ps10-million-investment-health-research-towards-empowering-african-genomic-discovery
- https://wellcome.org/insights/articles/gen-impact-10-million-investment-advance-african-genomics-and-health-equity