TY - GEN
T1 - AfriBiobank
T2 - 1st MICCAI Meets Africa Workshop, MImA 2024 and 1st MICCAI Student Board Workshop on Empowering Medical Information Computing and Research through Early-Career Expertise, EMERGE 2024, Held in Conjunction with MICCAI 2024
AU - Ismaila, Lukman Enegi
AU - Turki, Houcemeddine
AU - Frikha, Mohamed
AU - Weinstein, Taliya
AU - Hunja, Faith
AU - Fourie, Chris
AU - Adeshina, Steve A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Medical imaging plays a crucial role in healthcare, yet access to sufficient datasets, particularly in Africa, remains limited. This article discusses the challenges and opportunities surrounding medical imaging data sharing and governance in Africa. Drawing on existing research works, we explore the significance of medical imaging data, the limitations in availability, and the factors contributing to this challenge. We discuss the importance of data governance policies, the establishment of medical biobanks, and active steps towards the implementation of federated learning techniques to improve data availability and governance. Furthermore, we propose a medical imaging biobank for Africa (AfriBiobank). To enhance data interoperability, integration, and advanced analysis capabilities, we advocate for the incorporation of a semantic layer utilizing technologies such as semantic web standards and query languages, alongside medical data standards such as FHIR and DICOM, as well as adherence to linked data principles within the proposed biobank infrastructure. Furthermore, to support the storage and accessibility of data across multiple African countries, we envisage a hardware framework founded on a distributed architecture, leveraging blockchain technology for enhanced cybersecurity measures, alongside the establishment of a robust data center to ensure the scalability of the biobank’s data storage capabilities. By addressing these challenges and implementing innovative solutions, Africa can unlock the full potential of scientific advancements in healthcare.
AB - Medical imaging plays a crucial role in healthcare, yet access to sufficient datasets, particularly in Africa, remains limited. This article discusses the challenges and opportunities surrounding medical imaging data sharing and governance in Africa. Drawing on existing research works, we explore the significance of medical imaging data, the limitations in availability, and the factors contributing to this challenge. We discuss the importance of data governance policies, the establishment of medical biobanks, and active steps towards the implementation of federated learning techniques to improve data availability and governance. Furthermore, we propose a medical imaging biobank for Africa (AfriBiobank). To enhance data interoperability, integration, and advanced analysis capabilities, we advocate for the incorporation of a semantic layer utilizing technologies such as semantic web standards and query languages, alongside medical data standards such as FHIR and DICOM, as well as adherence to linked data principles within the proposed biobank infrastructure. Furthermore, to support the storage and accessibility of data across multiple African countries, we envisage a hardware framework founded on a distributed architecture, leveraging blockchain technology for enhanced cybersecurity measures, alongside the establishment of a robust data center to ensure the scalability of the biobank’s data storage capabilities. By addressing these challenges and implementing innovative solutions, Africa can unlock the full potential of scientific advancements in healthcare.
KW - Biobank
KW - data governance
KW - data sharing
KW - federated learning
KW - medical imaging data
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85219173213
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85219173213#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-79103-1_20
DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-79103-1_20
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85219173213
SN - 9783031791024
T3 - Communications in Computer and Information Science
SP - 189
EP - 198
BT - Medical Information Computing - First MICCAI Meets Africa Workshop, MImA 2024, and First MICCAI Student Board Workshop on Empowering Medical Information Computing and Research through Early-Career Expertise, EMERGE 2024, Held in Conjunction with MICCAI 2024, Revised Selected Papers
A2 - Anazodo, Udunna
A2 - Akash, Naren
A2 - Fuchs, Moritz
A2 - Cintas, Celia
A2 - Crimi, Alessandro
A2 - Mutsvangwa, Tinahse
A2 - Dako, Farouk
A2 - Ogallo, Willam
PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Y2 - 6 October 2024 through 6 October 2024
ER -