Clinical Omics and Informatics (COIN) Unit

The Clinical Omics and Informatics (COIN) Unit at the University of Cape Town’s Neuroscience Institute is dedicated to advancing genomic medicine for under-represented populations, with a strong focus on African patients and families. By applying cutting-edge genome sequencing technologies to the study of neurogenetic disorders, the unit aims to uncover disease mechanisms, improve rare disease diagnosis and drive the integration of omics into clinical care. Our unit brings together a multidisciplinary team of bioinformaticians, genetic counsellors, clinicians and medical scientists who work collaboratively at the interface of research and healthcare. Our research work is guided by several core objectives:

• Advance disease gene discovery through the application of advanced genomic technologies to diseases in African populations
• Facilitate the translation of research into precision medicine through data-driven approaches that bridge laboratory science and clinical practice
• Build capacity by training the next generation of African scientists, clinicians, genetic counsellors and bioinformaticians
• Promote equity and inclusion by ensuring African patients and datasets are prioritised in research questions and are represented in global data resources
• Support innovation by developing computational methods, workflows and tools that leverage pangenomic approaches to better capture and represent African genetic diversity.

 
Through these efforts, the COIN Unit is contributing to novel disease gene discovery and shaping a future where genomics is equitably integrated into healthcare, ensuring that African patients benefit directly from scientific innovation.