Table 1.

Summary of advantages and challenges of neurogenomics in Africa.

Advantages	Challenges
High genetic diversity and varying gene-environment interactions among and between African populations serve as valuable resources for studying genomic regulation of exposure to, and protection from, specific diseases.	Lack of a high number of appropriately-trained scientists and clinicians to lead neurogenomic activities is challenging to the development of the field.
The practice and knowledge of traditional medicine provides an opportunity to open up new research areas in order to search for bioactive compounds.	The low availability of research and clinical resources for genomics use is a limiting factor for research.
Potential contribution of traditional medicine to drug discovery and development as well as drug safety and efficacy evaluation.	Potential problems in the ethical, legal and social implications of genomic data collection and use might affect participant vulnerability and the willingness of populations to enrol in studies.
Neurogenomics would help to extend existing neuropharmacognosy research in Africa, by helping to provide further insights into the molecular mechanisms of disease and disease-modifying benefits of bioactive compounds.	Inadequate funding of genomics research by African governments leaves the sustainable development of the field in a questionable state.
Established genomic data sharing frameworks would ensure fairness in data collection, sharing and use.	Neurological problems associated with non-neurological diseases might be challenging to study, especially among laboratories with limited resources.
Recent genomic research funding and capacity-building programmes by specific international agencies are helping to establish good foundations and platforms for this area of research in Africa.
Interest in genomic research is growing among African scientists; this is helping to build a large number of scientists with expertise in genomic technologies as well as institutions with the required facilities.
Decreasing costs of sequencing technologies also provide an advantage to laboratories with limited funding to be able to afford such resources.