Bioethics and genomics expert Dr Sheetal Soni spoke on the challenges and opportunities for human rights in the postgenomic era at the U.S – Africa Leaders Summit 2022 hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden.

The three-day hybrid summit took place in Washington, DC in December and is part of continued efforts by the United States to strengthen ties with African partners based on principles of mutual respect, shared interests and values.

Soni was invited to speak in a session on human rights in the postgenomic era, which formed part of a dialogue engaging policymakers, members of industry, academics, scientists and civil society from both regions offering a unique learning environment as well as exclusive networking opportunities.

‘The session also generated concept input for a House Resolution concerning genomics, which is going to be advanced, and which aims to establish a stronger enabling policy and regulatory environment for scientific collaboration between the US and African nations. I am grateful for the opportunity to be included with great speakers from across Africa and the US! It was a great way to close off 2022,’ said Soni.

Soni was also an invited speaker at Midlands State University in collaboration with partners at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (USA) and TReND in Africa at a course Gene Editing: Theory and Practice Gweru, Zimbabwe. She delivered a lecture on the ethical and legal considerations of human genome editing.

Words: Thandiwe Jumo

Photograph: Supplied