During his brilliant talk at TEDxAbidjan on August 4, 2024, Dr. David Téa Okou delivered an impactful speech on the topic of “Precision medicine: back to the root”, demonstrating the crucial importance of including Africans into global medical research. His key message: it's impossible to talk about precision medicine, global health or health equity without accounting for the genetic uniqueness of Africans, who have the highest rate of genetic variation in the world. This genetic wealth represents an essential asset for global health.
Precision Medicine - A Paradigm Shift
In his speech, Dr. Okou explained the need to develop precision medicine, based on a personalized approach to healthcare. According to him, the traditional method of one-size-fits-all treatment for everyone is no longer viable in today's context, where each individual reacts differently to drugs due to his or her unique genetic make-up.
«“Imagine that there is a single shoe size in the world. This is the universal approach to the medical care that we receive today. But, like a fingerprint, every human being is unique. Why do we ignore this when it comes to healthcare?” he asked, which is an invitation to a deep thinking on the importance of individualized treatment.
The African genome: The key to equitable global health
Dr. Okou has highlighted a truth that is often overlooked in medical research: Africa is the cradle of modern humanity, and Africans have the highest number of genetic variants in the world. Yet, they represent about 1.5% of participants in global genomic studies. This lack of African specific data leads to clinical trial results that are not always transferable to African populations.
He cited the example of an African-specific genetic variation in the PCSK9 gene, discovered through studies on the African population, which has led to the development of a drug effective in reducing LDL (“bad cholesterol") level. This type of discovery illustrates the importance of including Africans in global medical research.
DNA: A key to preventive medicine
Dr. Okou also stressed the crucial role of DNA analysis in preventing disease and personalizing treatment. He referred to a concrete case where a DNA test could have prevented the death of a newborn baby following a morphine overdose, through the codeine that was administered to the nursing mother. This kind of drama shows just how much pharmacogenomics (the study of the interaction between drugs and genes) can save lives.
A Call to Action: Back to the root
According to Dr. Okou, it is imperative to go back to the root, so that studies on Africans may benefit not only Africans, but also the rest of the world. By harnessing Africa's genetic diversity, biomedical research can advance in a more inclusive and equitable way.
“Our differences make all the difference”, he asserted, calling for a judicious exploitation of genetic uniqueness to offer the right medicine, at the right dose, to the right patient.
A commitment to Africa
Originally from Côte d'Ivoire, Dr. Okou is committed to the development of precision medicine in French-speaking West Africa, a region that remains understudy and largely unexplored. After a rich career in the United States, he returned to Côte d'Ivoire with the desire to share his knowledge and contribute to the development of genomic medicine in his native country.
“Côte d'Ivoire needs my expertise, and French-speaking West Africa even more,” he concluded, determined to work for the well-being of African populations and to promote equitable precision medicine.
A promising future for medicine in Africa
TEDxAbidjan provided a platform to address issues crucial to the future of medicine. By increasing Africans participation in genomic research, Dr. Okou and his collaborators hope to advance precision medicine, not just for Africa, but for the world.
This article highlights the importance of African genetic diversity in the development of personalized medicine, and calls for a global awareness of the need for a greater equity in healthcare.
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