Biobanks and Genomics in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Emerging Opportunities for Research and Health Economics Webinar & Panel Discussion
This panel discussion will feature short presentations from Professor Segun Fatumo (Chair of Genomic Diversity at Queen Mary University of London and Head of Non-Communicable Disease Genomics at the MRC Uganda Research Unit) and Professor Zhu Chen (College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing). The speakers will highlight emerging opportunities in biobanks and genomics, particularly in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. The panel discussion will then explore how biobank and genomic platforms and data can be leveraged to inform health economic analysis and policy decision-making in LMICs, followed by an open discussion and concluding remarks.
Moderator: Professor Zanfina Ademi, Monash University
Presentation 1:
Name: Professor Segun Fatumo
Role & organization: Chair of Genomic Diversity at Queen Mary University of London and Head of Non-Communicable Disease Genomics at the MRC Uganda Research Unit
Bio: Professor Segun Fatumo is a globally recognised genomic epidemiologist advancing equitable human genomics research. He is Professor and Chair of Genomic Diversity at Queen Mary University of London and Head of Non-Communicable Disease Genomics at the MRC Uganda Research Unit. His work focuses on genetic determinants of cardiometabolic disease and kidney disease in diverse ancestry populations. He leads major initiatives including KidneyGenAfrica, BCX-Africa and the Nigerian 100K Genome Project, supported by international funders such as the MRC, NIH and Wellcome Trust. Professor Fatumo is widely published, serves on global advisory boards, contributes to genomics policy and capacity building in Africa, and is a frequent keynote speaker and media commentator
Abstract: The Uganda Genome Resource (UGR) is a well-characterized genomic biobank derived from the long-standing Uganda General Population Cohort, comprising genotype data (~5,000 individuals) and whole-genome sequencing (~2,000 individuals) across 10 ethno-linguistic groups. With rich phenotypic data spanning communicable and non-communicable diseases, UGR provides a unique platform for advancing genomics, multi-omics integration, and precision medicine in African populations. It enables discovery of population-specific variants, improved disease risk prediction, and deeper biological insights across diverse ancestries. These opportunities position UGR as a critical resource not only for scientific discovery but also for generating evidence to inform cost-effective health economic strategies and policy decisions in LMICs.
Presentation 2:
Name: Professor Chen Zhu
Role & organization: College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing
Bio: Chen Zhu is a Professor at the College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University. She received her Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Connecticut and her B.S. in Biology from Nanjing University. She currently serves as an Associate Editor for Agribusiness and an Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports. Dr. Zhu has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in economics, public health, and interdisciplinary journals. Her research focuses on genoeconomics, integrating genetic and socioeconomic data to better understand human capital formation, health behaviors, and economic decision-making, with particular interest in applications to rural development and health policy in China. Website: https://zhuchencau.wordpress.com/cv/
Abstract: This talk introduces a pilot Human Capital and Genoeconomics Survey conducted among rural households in China since 2019. The survey combines rich socioeconomic information, including human capital, health behaviors, fertility, and household decision-making, with individual genetic data for about 800 participants in rural China. Using this dataset, she will explore how genomic variation interacts with environmental conditions, nutrition, and local economic contexts to shape health and socioeconomic outcomes. She will argue that small- and medium-scale genomic surveys linked to detailed socioeconomic data can complement large biobanks, offering a practical framework for advancing genoeconomics research and informing health and development policy in low- and middle-income country settings.