# NeuroDev Kenya: characterizing the epidemiology and etiology of developmental disorders on the Kenyan Coast

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $477,536

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The NeuroDev Kenya data set will provide an unprecedented opportunity to study the etiology of
neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in East Africa, and create a research resource of international value. It
will be the first large-scale NDD collection in a rural African setting that is deeply phenotyped and genetically
informative, and all data and materials will be made publicly available. In this application, we propose to
conduct extensive analysis of NeuroDev Kenya’s genetic and phenotypic data, beginning in the award’s
second year. The analyses will leverage the rich environment at KEMRI and will be intertwined with our
proposed capacity building activities (Aim 3). Through our capacity building activities, we will provide structured
training in genetics and genetic data analysis, determine whether to introduce a lymphoblastic cell line (LCL)
protocol into NeuroDev Kenya, and determine how to ethically include adults with ID. We will share all data
(e.g. phenotypes, genotypes), and materials (e.g. DNA from blood, possibly LCLs) through the NIH. We will
also share outputs through international consortia and a new African NDD Research Network formalized
through this award (Aim 4).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10898014
- **Project number:** 5R01HD102975-04
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Amina Abubakar
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $477,536
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10898014

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10898014, NeuroDev Kenya: characterizing the epidemiology and etiology of developmental disorders on the Kenyan Coast (5R01HD102975-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10898014. Licensed CC0.

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