ACE-Uganda and Google DeepMind Partner to Advance AI Research.

For many young scientists across East Africa, access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools has often been out of reach. That is set to change.

The African Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences (ACE-Uganda) has partnered with Google DeepMind to equip the next generation of researchers with the skills, technology, and mentorship needed to tackle some of the region's biggest health challenges using artificial intelligence.

The collaboration will bring together emerging scientists from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, giving them access to world-leading AI tools, hands-on training, and mentorship from experts at the forefront of computational biology.

At the heart of the partnership is a shared vision: empowering African researchers to lead scientific discovery using technologies that are transforming biology and medicine around the world.

One of the project's major priorities is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the world's fastest-growing public health threats. As part of the collaboration, ACE-Uganda will host a regional AI for AMR Symposium, bringing together researchers to explore how artificial intelligence can accelerate efforts to understand, monitor, and combat drug-resistant infections.

Beyond the symposium, participants will receive practical training in Google DeepMind's groundbreaking tools, including AlphaFold and AlphaMissense, which are revolutionizing how scientists study proteins and understand the effects of genetic mutations. Researchers will also take part in an intensive scientific challenge, applying these technologies to solve real biological questions while receiving mentorship from AlphaFold experts working in structural biology and proteomics.

The partnership also builds on ACE-Uganda's growing strength in immersive technologies. By combining Google DeepMind's AI capabilities with the Centre's virtual reality platform, researchers will be able to explore interactive three-dimensional models of proteins, opening new possibilities for scientific discovery and collaboration.

Equally important is the investment in computational infrastructure. The collaboration will provide researchers with access to the computing resources needed to carry out data-intensive analyses locally, allowing more advanced AI-driven research to happen within Africa.

While antimicrobial resistance is a key focus, the impact of the partnership will extend much further. The skills and tools gained through the programme will support research into diseases that continue to place a heavy burden on the continent, including HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, sickle cell disease, cancer, and diabetes.

For ACE-Uganda, the partnership is about more than introducing new technologies. It is about investing in people; creating opportunities for young African scientists to build expertise, collaborate across borders, and lead research that responds to Africa's health priorities.

As artificial intelligence reshapes biomedical research around the world, initiatives like this ensure that African researchers are not simply adopting these technologies but helping define how they are used to solve local challenges. By combining global partnerships with local talent, ACE-Uganda and Google DeepMind are helping create an environment where the next generation of scientific breakthroughs can be developed in Africa, by African scientists.