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Researchers have conducted the most comprehensive analysis to date linking plasma proteins to genetic variation in individuals from continental Africa. Their work addresses a long-standing gap by studying a population grossly underrepresented in medical research. The findings could pave the way for earlier and more accurate type 2 diabetes diagnoses, as well as treatments tailored to African populations. The study was led by Helmholtz Munich in collaboration with the Queen Mary University of London, the Technical University of Munich and the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit.
Closing an Equity Gap in Global Health
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, but it is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This is partly because most existing diagnostic markers, such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), were developed in European populations and may be less accurate in African populations due to genetic and biological differences. Until now, there is a critical lack of large-scale genetic and proteomic studies in continental Africa, leaving major blind spots in the development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these communities.
“By focusing on African populations, we are uncovering biological insights that have been missing from global diabetes research,” says Dr. Opeyemi Soremekun, first author of the study and former Humboldt Research Fellow at Helmholtz Munich. “This work shows that a one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosis and treatment is not enough – we need solutions that reflect the diversity of human biology.”
Unique Protein Patterns Provide New Insights Into Disease Biology
By combining genomic and plasma proteomic data from a Ugandan cohort, the researchers mapped nearly 400 genetic regions that regulate circulating protein levels – 58 of them previously unknown in African-ancestry individuals. They identified 18 proteins with a likely causal link to T2D, including some that could be targeted by existing drugs. Notably, several proteins (such as apolipoprotein F and lipoprotein lipase) showed unique patterns in the Ugandan participants but not in Europeans, underscoring the importance of population-specific insights. These results not only deepen scientific understanding of T2D biology but also provide a publicly available dataset for researchers worldwide.
“Our analysis identified protein changes and genetic signals that are specific to African ancestry populations,” says Prof. Segun Fatumo, Chair of the Precision Healthcare University Research Institute at Queen Mary University of London. “These findings highlight potential new biomarkers for type 2 diabetes and open the door to treatments that are tailored to the biological profiles of these communities.”
Expanding Research to Reflect Africa’s Diversity
The team plans to expand this work to additional African populations, recognizing that the continent’s genetic, cultural, dietary, and environmental diversity means that type 2 diabetes does not follow a single biological pattern. By mapping these differences in detail, the research could help develop representative biomarkers and treatment strategies – ultimately bringing more precise and effective healthcare to millions of people.
“Our findings lay the groundwork for future clinical applications, from improved diagnostic markers to potential therapeutic targets,” says Prof. Eleftheria Zeggini, Director of the Institute of Translational Genomics at Helmholtz Munich and Professor at the Technical University of Munich. “By embracing genetic diversity in research, we can move closer to precision medicine that works for all.”
About the Researchers
Dr. Opeyemi Soremekun, Carl Friedrich von Siemens Research Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at the Institute of Translational Genomics at Helmholtz Munich until September 2025; researcher at the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit and at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Prof. Segun Fatumo, Chair of the Precision Healthcare University Research Institute at the Queen Mary University of London; researcher at the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit and at the Institute of Translational Genomics at Helmholtz Munich.
Prof. Eleftheria Zeggini, Director of the Institute of Translational Genomics at Helmholtz Munich and Professor of Translational Genomics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
About Helmholtz Munich
Helmholtz Munich is a leading biomedical research center. Its mission is to develop breakthrough solutions for better health in a rapidly changing world. Interdisciplinary research teams focus on environmentally triggered diseases, especially the therapy and prevention of diabetes, obesity, allergies, and chronic lung diseases. With the power of artificial intelligence and bioengineering, researchers accelerate the translation to patients. Helmholtz Munich has around 2,500 employees and is headquartered in Munich/Neuherberg. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, with more than 43,000 employees and 18 research centers the largest scientific organization in Germany. More about Helmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt GmbH): www.helmholtz-munich.de/en
Prof. Eleftheria Zeggini
E-Mail: eleftheria.zeggini@helmholtz-munich.de
Soremekun et al., 2025: Linking the plasma proteome to genetics in individuals from continental Africa provides insights into type 2 diabetes pathogenesis. Nature Genetics. DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02421-w
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