Uplifting RNA Science in Africa: A Call to Action

The 21st century has witnessed the emergence of an entire new class of therapeutic and prophylactic medicines based on RNA. These transformative advances have arisen from decades of fundamental and applied research efforts to understand, exploit, and modify the properties of RNA to improve lives and livelihoods for patients and broader societal stakeholders. However, the contributions of African scientists, businesses and policymakers to the RNA research ecosystem have been minimal. This, despite the opportunities for exploitation of RNA-based medicines in specific health issues endemic to the region, such as the neglected tropical diseases schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and Buruli ulcer, as well as chronic respiratory disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) that disproportionately impact low and middle countries. Here, we outline some of the challenges faced by the incipient RNA bioscience research community in Africa, which remains hindered by a deficiency of strategic vision and insufficient momentum, an underdeveloped culture of collaboration, and persistent constraints in resources and infrastructure. Overcoming these issues requires a re-imagining of how the global RNA research community and African scholars mobilise resources for co-production of RNA-related knowledge and innovation. Potential solutions include forging equitable partnerships with institutions in the Global North, strengthening local, regional, and transnational collaborative networks in RNA science, and developing grassroots platforms that expand RNA education, research training, and communitywide networking across Africa. Together, these approaches offer a pathway to build sustainable capacity, nurture scientific leadership, and accelerate the growth of the continent’s RNA bioscience ecosystem.