http://hub.africabiosciences.org/
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub
BecA Hub launch, 5 November 2010.
Mobilizing biosciences for Africa’s development
BecA is an initiative developed within the framework of Centres of Excellence for Science and Technology in Africa.
Hosted and managed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, the BecA Hub
provides a common biosciences research platform, research-related services and capacity building opportunities to
the region and beyond. The Hub aims to increase access to affordable, world-class research facilities and to create
and strengthen human resources in biosciences and related disciplines in Africa.
About BecA Hub and Nodes
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) consists of a Hub located on the campus of the International Livestock Research Institute (BecA) in
Nairobi, Kenya, that will provide a common biosciences research platform, research-related services and capacity building and training opportunities;
and a network of regional nodes and other laboratories distributed throughout eastern and central Africa for the conduct of research on priority issues
affecting Africa’s development. BecA has been established amongst a group of cooperating institutions that agree to make their facilities available for
regional use.
Objectives
The objectives of BecA are to:
1.
Provide focal points for the African scientific community to support the activities of national, regional and international entities addressing
agriculture-related problems for reducing poverty, creating wealth and promoting Africa’s development. The main objective is to bring
improved and marketable agricultural products to African farmers.
2.
Create and strengthen human resources in biosciences and related disciplines in Africa.
3.
Promote scientific excellence by bringing together a critical mass of scientists drawn from national, regional and international institutions in
modern facilities where they can undertake cutting edge research. The goal is to help solve some of the most important development
constraints affecting the health and well being of people in Africa.
4.
Increase access to affordable, world-class research facilities within Africa.
5.
Produce, manage and disseminate bioscience information and knowledge relevant to Africa’s development.
6.
Facilitate access to advice and training on intellectual property, biosafety and other regulatory issues.
7.
Attract additional investments for biosciences in and for Africa from governments, the private sector, and regional and international bodies.
8.
Serve as a platform to forge partnerships with other biosciences laboratories and with those entities responsible for product development
and delivery, within Africa and globally.
9.
To strengthen the role of women in African agriculture, and to facilitate the greater participation of women and girls in biosciences and
related research in Africa.
10.
To use new developments in biosciences to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity in Africa.
BecA Countries
Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya,
Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda.
BecA Nodes

University of Buea, Cameroon

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia

Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda

Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Rwanda
Partners in research
Africa
African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF)
African Insect Science for Food and Health (ICIPE)
African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)
African Union/The New Partnership for Africa's Development (AU/NEPAD)
Animal Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Tanzania
Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), Kenya
Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), Tanzania
Eastern Africa Regional Programme and Research Network for Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biotechnology Policy Development (BIOEARN)
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia
Insitut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda (ISAR)
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS)
Kenyatta University, Kenya
Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Rwanda
Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute, Tanzania
Ministry of Livestock, Kenya
Ministry of Public Health, Kenya
National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Uganda
National Veterinary Research Center (NVRC), Kenya
Ondestepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI), South Africa
Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
VetAID, Kenya
University of Buea, Cameroon
University of Pretoria, South Africa
Asia/Middle East
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)
Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS)
National Livestock Research Institute (NLRI), Republic of South Korea
Rural Development Administration, Republic of South Korea
Weismann Institute, Israel
Australia
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Diversity Arrays Technology
Europe
Central Science Laboratory, UK
European Molecular Biology Network (EMBNET)
Global Alliance for Livestock Vaccines (GALVMed)
Institute for Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries in Ghent, Belgium
John Innes Centre, UK
La Recherche Agronomique au Service des Pays du Sud (CIRAD), France
Linnaeus Centre for Bioinformatics (LCB), Sweden
Moredun Research Institute (MRI), UK
Swedish University of Agriculture (SLU)
Swiss Tropical Institute, Switzerland
Syngenta Company
University of Berne, Switzerland
University of Edinburgh, UK
University of Greenwich, UK
University of Liverpool, UK
University of Valencia, Spain
Uppsala University, Sweden
Veterinaires Sans Frontieres, Germany
Wageningen University, Netherlands
North America
Auburn University, USA
Cornell University, USA
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, USA
Iowa State University, USA
Monsanto
North Carolina State University, USA
Seeding Labs
United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service
University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, USA
University of Toronto, Ontario Genomics Institute, Canada
Washington State University, USA
Global/Regional
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD; CGIAR Gender and Diversity Program initiative, supported by the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation)
BiosafeTrain
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
International Potato Center (CIP)
Investors in research
Governments
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
European Development Fund/European Union
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Germany)
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
The Government of Kenya
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Foundations
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Born Free Foundation
Doyle Foundation
Google Foundation
McKnight Foundation
Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA)
The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
The Kirkhouse Trust
The Rockefeller Foundation
The Wellcome Trust
Global
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
Generation Challenge Program
The World Bank
Third World Organisation for Women in Science (TWOWS)
Regional and Others
Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)
Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Heifer Project International, USA
Roche
Scientific and technical core competencies
The areas of scientific and technical core competencies and the associated infrastructure that are available through
the BecA Hub are summarized below. These technologies are available to support capacity building and specific
biosciences research activities in eastern and central Africa.
Bioinformatics: The computational assembly of data from genomic analysis.
Diagnostics: Development and use of accurate and rapid tests to identify pathogens.
DNA sequencing: Analysis of gene structure through automated DNA sequencing.
Genomics and functional genomics: The study of the DNA sequences and properties of entire genomes, and the
analysis of gene (and protein) functions and interactions.
Recombinant DNA technology: Gene cloning, genetic modification, and general molecular biology.
Molecular breeding: Identification, evaluation and expression of useful traits using marker-assisted selection (MAS).
Cell and tissue culture: In vitro cultivation of animal cells, & growth of whole plants from single cells or meristems in
the laboratory.
Immunology and vaccine technology: Use of modern immunology to develop recombinant vaccines for improved
control of livestock diseases.
Vectors: Cultivation of ticks, as aids for the study of vector-borne diseases that affect livestock in Africa.
Needs assessment
What is Biosciences eastern and central Africa?
Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) is an initiative endorsed by The New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Comprehensive African Agricultural Development
Programme (CAADP) and developed in the framework of Centres of Excellence for Science and
Technology.
The core of BecA is a joint venture of regional research partners linked to the global research
community, with the aim to employ modern biotechnology to improve agriculture in eastern and
central Africa. BecA seeks to strengthen the capacity of scientists in eastern and central Africa,
to conduct bioscience research and to significantly contribute to improved products that can
enhance livelihoods of farmers in the region.
BecA provides a focal point for the African scientific community to support the activities of
national, regional and international agencies as they address agricultural related problems of
importance for alleviating poverty and promoting development.
Nature
BecA consists of a Secretariat and a Hub, both located at the International Livestock Research
Institute (BecA), Nairobi, Kenya. The Hub provides a common biosciences research platform,
research-related services and capacity building opportunities. BecA also has a network of five
regional Nodes and other laboratories distributed throughout eastern and central Africa.
BecA aims to increase access to affordable, world-class research facilities within Africa and to
create and strengthen human resources in biosciences and related disciplines in Africa. Special
attention is being paid to the needs of women and to people from post conflict countries.
BecA’s Mission
To improve the livelihoods of resource-poor people in Africa, through the development and use
of new technologies and strategies for sustaining agricultural production, improving human
health, and conserving the environment.
BecA Countries
Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and
Principe, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda.
BecA Nodes

University of Buea, Cameroon

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia

Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Rwanda

Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda
Needs assessment
A needs assessment is required to help shape BecA activities to the biosciences research and
capacity-building needs of the region, and to enhance linkages between research and training
organisations
As a recipient of this message, you are kindly requested to fill out the form
Biosciences
Needs Assessment Form 159.00 Kb and return the completed form by email to BecAHub@cgiar.org and e.norgbey@cgiar.org . Alternatively, you can fill out the online form. Thank
you for taking the time to complete the form and for helping us serve you better.
LIMS
BecA Hub Laboratory Information Management System
What is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)?
It is an information management system that can record, store and display all information
relevant to a research laboratory.
The BecA Hub LIMS, LabCollector, consists of modules specific for the needs of the end-user
scientist. Modules include:
1. Samples Module - stores information on any kind of sample that the lab manipulates.
You can custom define sample types. Lab staff can add multi-level processes or tests to
each sample, which are kept by entry date and can be easily created with predefined
process type indication and reports. Samples and associated processes are connected
to its operator. Sample data can be linked to other sample records or information on
other modules.
2. Reagents & Supplies Module - stores any kind of reagents, chemicals or other
supplies that are used in the lab. Search and browse by keyword, provide risk and safety
data and associates seller or local distributor contacts (with item price). Keeps track of
each lot with available quantity and original barcode number and provide one-click
memorization of items to order into a Order Us list. The order list includes a detailed
ordering management system (status of orders) with historical data.
3. Equipment Module - stores information on all equipment in the lab and links to standard
operating procedures and manual associated with equipment. It is also possible to book
equipment using the equipment-booking module.
4. Strains Module - keeps and displays information about all bacteria, cells or other
organisms owned by the user or laboratory.
5. Sequences Module - stores sequences common to lab experiments, find matching
primers for the sequence, link to associate files like ABI files and provide access to basic
bioinformatics tools.
6. Primers Module - stores primer records that include details like orientation, purity,
labels and availability.
7. Plasmids Module - stores and allows the search for plasmid data.
8. Antibodies Module - stores information on antibodies such as isotypes, species and
applications.
9. Animals Module - manage laboratory animal records such as which animal cages are
currently hosted, their status, ongoing experiments. Commentaries box allows quick
observations recording.
Screenshot: ILRI-BecA LIMS dashboard
What can you do with a Laboratory Information Management System?

Speed-up your research.

Manage and track samples and biological material.

Know reagents stocks and validity in real-time.

Find your cell line in seconds.

Keep activity records.

Know which animals are in which cages or stables.

Know which plants are in greenhouse or tissue culture.

Browse and easily manage storage places.

Manage your sequences, plasmids or primers and analyze them quickly.

Share documents, protocols and other documents on the lab.

Keep and manage experiments in a collaborative Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN).
How to use the BecA Hub LIMS?
Access to the BecA Hub LIMS is through a web browser at
http://lims.ilri.cgiar.org/labcollector/html/ using your BecA Hub assigned username and
password.
The BecA Hub LIMS LabCollector manual is available
Manager
Dr. Etienne deVilliers (Scientist)
e.villiers@cgiar.org e.villiers@cgiar.org
LabCollector manual 2.27 Mb.