From African Genomes to Function: A Systematic Review and Evidence Map of Disease Models in Africa, with Meta-analysis of Patient-Derived Organoid Treatment-Response Prediction
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This is a retrospective registration of the protocol and analytical framework for a systematic review, evidence map, and diagnostic-accuracy meta-analysis examining functional disease-modelling research relevant to African genomics. The review addresses two complementary evidence streams. The first systematically identifies and maps peer-reviewed primary studies using human cell and induced pluripotent stem cell systems, patient-derived organoids, Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, zebrafish, and related functional genomic approaches where there is substantive African institutional participation or African-derived biological material. The second evaluates the clinical validity of patient-derived tumour organoids as predictors of treatment response using matched patient-organoid studies with clinically interpretable treatment-response outcomes. The review evaluates the geographic and experimental distribution of functional disease-model research in Africa, methodological and reporting characteristics of the included studies, and opportunities for cross-platform functional validation. Quantitative synthesis is restricted to clinically coherent patient-derived organoid treatment-response studies rather than combining biologically incompatible experimental outcomes across different model systems. Diagnostic performance is assessed using sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratios, random-effects models, and sensitivity analyses. Risk of bias for the organoid clinical-validity studies is assessed using QUADAS-2, while model-specific methodological domains informed by SYRCLE principles are used for the broader African evidence map. The protocol was finalised before final eligibility coding and quantitative synthesis but was not prospectively registered. This OSF registration therefore documents the review retrospectively for transparency and reproducibility. Search strategies, eligibility criteria, extraction fields, risk-of-bias assessments, analysis scripts, and supporting data will be deposited with the registration and/or associated research materials. Any database-search updates or resulting amendments made before final journal submission will be documented transparently.
Author: AFEES John OLANREWAJU
Language: English
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7202393582