Psychiatric genetics research in Africa: challenges, opportunities and strategic insights from the Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study

Jared G Maina; Adeniran Okewole; Barkot Milkias; Natalie Smyth; James Walters; Amelia C Crampin; Taiwo Lateef Sheikh; Solomon Teferra; Michèle Ramsay; Gerome Breen; Andrew McIntosh

doi:10.1192/bjp.2026.10578

Psychiatric genetics research in Africa: challenges, opportunities and strategic insights from the Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study

Jared G Maina^*, Adeniran Okewole, Barkot Milkias, Natalie Smyth, James Walters, Amelia C Crampin, Taiwo Lateef Sheikh, Solomon Teferra, Michèle Ramsay, Gerome Breen, Andrew McIntosh

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study seeks to address the underrepresentation of African populations in psychiatric genomics by investigating the genetic basis of major depressive disorder in three African countries: Ethiopia, Malawi and Nigeria. This Editorial reflects on lessons from project set-up and offers recommendations, highlighting trust, communication, ethical oversight, data tools, workforce training and resource governance.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-5
Number of pages	5
Journal	The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
Early online date	23 Mar 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2026.10578
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 23 Mar 2026

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Revised_Clean_DepGenAfrica_ProcessPaper_BJP_Europe_PMCAccepted author manuscript, 1.09 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY)

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Maina, J. G., Okewole, A., Milkias, B., Smyth, N., Walters, J., Crampin, A. C., Sheikh, T. L., Teferra, S., Ramsay, M., Breen, G., & McIntosh, A. (2026). Psychiatric genetics research in Africa: challenges, opportunities and strategic insights from the Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, 1-5. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2026.10578

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Maina, JG, Okewole, A, Milkias, B, Smyth, N, Walters, J, Crampin, AC, Sheikh, TL, Teferra, S, Ramsay, M, Breen, G & McIntosh, A 2026, 'Psychiatric genetics research in Africa: challenges, opportunities and strategic insights from the Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study', The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2026.10578

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AU - Smyth, Natalie

AU - Walters, James

AU - Crampin, Amelia C

AU - Sheikh, Taiwo Lateef

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AU - Ramsay, Michèle

AU - Breen, Gerome

AU - McIntosh, Andrew

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AB - The Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study seeks to address the underrepresentation of African populations in psychiatric genomics by investigating the genetic basis of major depressive disorder in three African countries: Ethiopia, Malawi and Nigeria. This Editorial reflects on lessons from project set-up and offers recommendations, highlighting trust, communication, ethical oversight, data tools, workforce training and resource governance.

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JO - The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science

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Psychiatric genetics research in Africa: challenges, opportunities and strategic insights from the Depression Genetics in Africa (DepGenAfrica) study

Abstract

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