The Ugandan African Centers of Excellence (ACE) in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences has launched an upgraded High-Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster. The initiative is facilitated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in collaboration with African research institutions, private sector companies, and the Foundation for the NIH.
The first ACE was established in 2015 at the University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies in Bamako, Mali. In 2019, a center was opened in Uganda through a partnership with the Infectious Disease Institute and Makerere University. This center has since expanded its infrastructure and research programs significantly.
High-performance computing is crucial for addressing diseases such as malaria, TB, HIV, Ebola, diabetes, and cancer that affect African nations disproportionately. The U.S. government acknowledges that health is foundational to safety and prosperity. Since 2002, NIH's International Centers for Excellence in Research (ICER) have developed research programs across sub-Saharan Africa.
Over six years, ACE has achieved collaborations with international academic institutions and produced graduates who are now independent researchers with peer-reviewed publications. The facilities include a telelearning-capable classroom and a visualization lab featuring virtual reality-based training.
The launch of the updated HPC at ACE includes 55 new computing nodes that will enhance storage and computational capacity five-fold. This development aims to improve understanding of infectious diseases globally.
"Billions of people depend on the scientific discoveries that you will make here," noted speakers during the launch event.