Nigeria is taking an important step towards strengthening cancer research and precision oncology through a partnership between health data infrastructure company BioVana and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT). Together, the organisations are advancing the implementation of Nigeria’s National Cancer Biobank Network (NCBN), an initiative designed to connect research institutions and establish a stronger foundation for cancer research across the country.
Building on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2025, the network currently brings together eight federal hospitals spanning Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Its initial goal is to recruit and catalogue 10,000 cancer biospecimens, with ambitions to expand the network to 100,000 by 2028. The initiative aims to establish a coordinated system through which biological samples and associated data can be collected, managed and made available for research using shared standards.
Combining National Leadership with Technical Expertise
NICRAT provides national leadership, institutional coordination and overall oversight, while BioVana is responsible for the technical implementation. This includes developing digital infrastructure, aligning sample and data management practices, strengthening institutional capacity and establishing systems that support research.
Initial site assessments have been carried out at participating hospitals, alongside a stakeholder workshop involving representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER). These efforts are helping advance harmonised biobanking practices and common data and quality standards across the network.
As one of the first nationally coordinated cancer biobank networks of its kind in Africa, the NCBN offers a model for connecting research institutions through shared governance, standards and infrastructure.
Connecting African Research with Global Discovery
Founded in 2025 by Estelle Dogbo and Dr. Jumi Popoola, BioVana is working to connect African research institutions with the global scientific community. Its approach aims to help local biomedical data contribute to drug discovery and address the underrepresentation of African populations in global research.
Speaking about the partnership, Estelle Dogbo, Co-Founder and CEO of BioVana, said: “Nigeria already has significant cancer research resources distributed across institutions. The NCBN is about connecting those resources through the standards, infrastructure and governance required to make them more useful for research.”
She added: “Our vision is for the NCBN to become a blueprint for nationally coordinated biomedical research infrastructure across Africa, demonstrating how countries can connect their institutions, strengthen local research capacity and responsibly unlock their biomedical resources for cancer research and global discovery.”
Responding to Africa’s Growing Cancer Burden
The need for stronger research infrastructure is underscored by the cancer burden across the continent. According to Africa Cancer Control Partners, more than one million new cancer cases were reported in Africa in 2020, a figure projected to double to two million over the following 15 years.
Strengthening biobanking capabilities can help researchers access high-quality biological samples and data, supporting the development of more precise approaches to cancer treatment.
For Professor Aliyu Malami Usman, Director General of NICRAT, the network is part of a broader ambition to build lasting national research capacity.
“Our ambition goes beyond connecting institutions today. We are laying the foundation for a national cancer research infrastructure that can serve Nigeria for generations. The NCBN is an important step towards our longer-term vision of establishing a central national cancer biobank, supported by a strong network of institutions across the country. Through our partnership with BioVana, we are building the standards, capacity and systems needed to make that vision possible, and to position Nigeria as a leader in cancer research and precision oncology in Africa.”
Ensuring African Populations Benefit from Precision Oncology
International collaboration and consistent standards will also be central to the network’s development. Dr. Stella Somiari, President of ISBER, highlighted the importance of ensuring that African populations both contribute to and benefit from advances in precision oncology.
“Nigeria’s National Cancer Biobank Network is an important step toward ensuring that African populations shape, and derive benefit from precision oncology. ISBER has long held the view that high-quality, standards-aligned biobanking is the foundation of trustworthy research that will allow institutions to work together across borders, while protecting research participants and communities who make this research possible. By collecting local biospecimens and data with care, and consistency, Nigerian researchers can collaborate as equal partners worldwide to generate evidence that leads to more precise cancer care for Nigerian patients.”
Dr. Zisis Kozlakidis, Group Head of Laboratory Support, Biobanking, and Services at IARC/WHO, also emphasised the importance of building connected research infrastructure across regions.
“The future of cancer research depends on our ability to build strong, connected research infrastructure across all regions of the world. Nigeria’s National Cancer Biobank Network represents an important step towards ensuring that high-quality samples and data from African populations can contribute meaningfully to global scientific discovery. By investing in shared standards, local capacity and sustainable biobanking infrastructure, initiatives such as the NCBN can help build a more representative and equitable future for cancer research.”
Next Steps for the National Cancer Biobank Network
The next phase will focus on building capacity across the eight participating hospitals, harmonising biobanking procedures, implementing common data and quality standards, and recruiting the first 10,000 cancer samples.
