About the AfriGen-D Genomic Beacon

Search and discover genomic variants through the GA4GH Beacon API.

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) Beacon is a standard for genomic data discovery. It provides a framework for sharing genetic information in a privacy-preserving manner.

Boolean Mode — This instance runs in Boolean mode, which provides public access while protecting privacy. Queries return only YES or NO responses, indicating whether a variant exists in the database without revealing sensitive information.

The African Genomics Data Hub (AfriGen-D) offers a suite of interconnected resources and services to facilitate the implementation of African genomics research throughout the research data life cycle — from data generation and discovery, to analysis and long-term archiving. AfriGen-D reflects the value and application of African genomics to the world, and the growing integration of genetics and genomics in healthcare and biomedical research globally.

AfriGen-D is a multi-PI project led from three sites across Africa — the University of Cape Town (Prof. Nicola Mulder, South Africa), the Institut Pasteur de Tunis (Assoc. Prof. Kais Ghedira, Tunisia), and the University of Mauritius (Prof. Yasmina Jaufeerally-Fakim, Mauritius), with key partners in additional African countries.

Headline resources include the African Genomic Medicine Portal (AGMP), the African Genome Variation Database (AGVD), the African Population Ontology (AfPO), a federated Data Catalogue, Data Collection Toolkits, an online Imputation Service, the AfriGen-D Genomic Beacon, and the African Beacon Network.

AfriGen-D is supported by the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute (NIH grant U24HG012750) and governed by the University of Cape Town Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: HREC R043/2018). Visit afrigen-d.org for project details, partners, and team.