Evidence mapPaperPMID 42455253Full record

ReviewJournal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute2026

Immune organoids for Africa: a roadmap for bridging the innovation gap in infectious diseases and cancer research.

Ahmad Onikoko Abdulgafar, Adeyemi Sallam Febilola, Catherine Rono, Chinemerem Henry Ugo, Saerimam Nzunde Markus, Mariam Iyabo Adeoba, Dagunduro Emmanuel Tolu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ahmad Onikoko AbdulgafarUsmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria. adeyanju8998@gmail.com.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2970-0692
Adeyemi Sallam FebilolaUsmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Catherine RonoRoswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, USA.
Chinemerem Henry UgoUniversity of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria.
Saerimam Nzunde MarkusUniversity of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
Mariam Iyabo AdeobaUniversity of South Africa, Florida, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dagunduro Emmanuel ToluUniversity of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSub-Saharan Africa bears approximately 25% of the global disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) burden yet contributes fewer than 3% of global health research outputs. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria coexist with a rising cancer burden, with attributable mortality projected to increase 75% by 2050. Fewer than 0.2% of genome-wide association study (GWAS) participants are of African ancestry, constraining precision medicine relevance. Conventional two-dimensional cultures and murine models inadequately replicate immune dynamics, tissue-level pathogenesis, and African pharmacogenomics. Immune organoids (three-dimensional microphysiological constructs) offer human-relevant platforms for mechanistic immunology, drug screening, vaccine evaluation, and precision oncology.

methodA narrative review was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (January 2019-June 2025), integrating technical descriptors (lymph node-on-a-chip, patient-derived organoids, microphysiological systems) with regional keywords (sub-Saharan Africa, genomic sovereignty, STISA-2034, frugal bioengineering). Gray literature from WHO, World Bank, and Africa CDC was incorporated. Thematic synthesis identified technological advances, infrastructural barriers, regulatory gaps, and sociopolitical determinants of adoption.

resultLymph node-on-a-chip, tonsil-derived, and tumor-immune co-culture organoids enable high-fidelity interrogation of host-pathogen and tumor-immune interactions. Adoption is constrained by infrastructure deficits, reagent costs, energy instability, bioinformatics gaps, and nascent regulatory frameworks. Scalable solutions include a three-tier hub framework (Coordinator-Generator-Collaborator), ABCOMICS for continental genomic data governance, frugal LCD-based bioprinting, and passive microfluidic perfusion. Harmonized ethical guidelines and community-engaged consent are essential for genomic sovereignty.

conclusionA phased, STISA-2034-aligned roadmap integrating frugal bioengineering, ethical governance, and targeted capacity-building can position Africa as a global leader in human-centric biomedical research, accelerating precision medicine, pandemic preparedness, and health equity.

Indexed as

Biomedical ResearchCommunicable DiseasesNeoplasmsOrganoidsAfricaAnimalsHumansMicrophysiological SystemsPrecision MedicineBiomedical sovereigntyFrugal bioengineeringGenomic sovereigntyGlobal health equityImmune organoidsPrecision oncologySub-Saharan Africa

Identifiers

PMID42455253
PMCPMC13373111

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.