Title
The Development of Computational Biology in South Africa: Successes Achieved and Lessons Learnt.
Abstract
Bioinformatics is now a critical skill in many research and commercial environments as biological data are increasing in both size and complexity. South African researchers recognized this need in the mid-1990s and responded by working with the government as well as international bodies to develop initiatives to build bioinformatics capacity in the country. Significant injections of support from these bodies provided a springboard for the establishment of computational biology units at multiple universities throughout the country, which took on teaching, basic research and support roles. Several challenges were encountered, for example with unreliability of funding, lack of skills, and lack of infrastructure. However, the bioinformatics community worked together to overcome these, and South Africa is now arguably the leading country in bioinformatics on the African continent. Here we discuss how the discipline developed in the country, highlighting the challenges, successes, and lessons learnt.
Year
DOI
Venue
2016
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004395
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
Field
DocType
Volume
Biological data,Biology,Computational biology,Basic research,Government
Journal
12
Issue
ISSN
Citations 
2
1553-7358
1
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.39
5
11
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
N Mulder11252253.89
Alan Christoffels210010.81
Tulio de Oliveira3497.79
Junaid Gamieldien481.83
Scott Hazelhurst523525.65
fourie joubert631.15
Judit Kumuthini7473.51
Ché S. Pillay830.78
Jacky L. Snoep962151.45
Özlem Tastan Bishop10214.90
Nicki Tiffin1110.39