Building Capacity in Bioinformatics

KRISP Hosts Ensembl Training Workshop

text: Paul Harris photo: Paul Harris

On the 14th of August, KRISP proudly hosted the Ensembl Training Workshop, part of a nationwide training series sponsored by DIPLOMICS (Distributed Platform in Omics). This initiative forms an important step in strengthening South Africa’s capacity in bioinformatics, data management, and genomics research.

The workshop brought together researchers, postgraduate students, and young scientists eager to expand their skills in genomic data analysis. Through a combination of lectures and hands-on sessions, participants were introduced to the Ensembl platform – a powerful, open-access resource that enables scientists to navigate, analyse, and interpret genomic data with greater ease and accuracy.

The training was expertly facilitated by Dr Aleena Mushtaq Stolworthy and Mhlekazi Molatoli, whose engaging and practical approach created an interactive learning environment. Participants left with not only new technical skills but also the confidence to integrate Ensembl resources into their ongoing and future research.

“Workshops like this are essential to building a strong research community across South Africa and Africa as a whole,” noted Dr Hastings Musopole, one of the participants. “Having access to tools like Ensembl –and knowing how to use them effectively – is a gamechanger for genomic and bioinformatics research.”

At KRISP, we are deeply committed to advancing capacity building, collaboration, and knowledgesharing in genomics. By supporting initiatives like the Ensembl Training Workshop, we continue to empower the next generation of African scientists to harness the full potential of genomic data in tackling pressing health challenges.

We extend our sincere thanks to the facilitators, as well as to DIPLOMICS for sponsoring this important training initiative. Together, we are building the foundations for a stronger, more connected genomics research community.

What is Ensembl?

Ensembl is an open-access genome browser developed by the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. It provides researchers with powerful tools to:

• Explore reference genomes for humans and other species.

• Access gene, protein, and variant data.

• Visualise genomic regions and annotations.

• Compare genomes across species.

By offering free, integrated datasets and interactive tools, Ensembl helps scientists worldwide make sense of complex genomic information and apply it to research in health, disease, and evolution.

BELOW: Dr Aleena Mushtaq Stolworthy works one-on-one with participants.