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WHAT IS
DIPLOMICS?

DIPLOMICS is a resource for the national and international Omics community. We are a network of academic, commercial and industrial labs in South Africa. We are an inclusive organisation that is guided and informed by working groups of experts and managed by a professional team.
Our ambition is to create a world-class Omics infrastructure that is internationally competitive. Our focus is on laboratory infrastructure support, advanced training for technicians, introducing new technologies, and increasing the quality and reducing the price of Omics services in South Africa.
What does DIPLOMICS do?

Omics scientists use sophisticated and costly instruments. DIPLOMICS provides support to our partner laboratories by deploying the latest equipment, working with industry to provide comprehensive maintenance and service contracts, and installing laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
Since 2017, we have invested R56.4m in Lab Infrastructure Support.
Laboratory Infrastructure
Support

Omics technologies require skilled scientists and technicians. DIPLOMICS supports advanced training in operating and maintaining Omics instruments and in data analysis by providing access to specialised courses and workshops.
We fund training for lab technicians on instruments, bioinformatics, new technologies and software. We also support training for students, researchers, and scientists beyond the network, especially in PDI institutions.
Since 2017, we have invested R6.1m in training.
Advanced Training for Technicians

DIPLOMICS is a central portal for access to information on Omics resources and opportunities and supports Omics policymakers, practitioners and end-users. DIPLOMICS gathers information and data that enables stakeholders to identify key areas for intervention. For example:
• Provide a bird’s eye view of the Omics industry
• Avoid instrument redundancy
• Improve accessibility to students and researchers
• Study and assess socioeconomic impacts
• Organise and streamline the South African Omics market
• Minimise the ‘monopoly effect’ of Omics suppliers in South Africa
• Understand global trends in Omics research
Information & Intelligence
Meet The DIPLOMICS Team
Meet The
DIPLOMICS Working Groups
At the core of the DIPLOMICS network are the three working groups representing the sub-domains of genomics, proteomics & metabolomics, and bioinformatics.
The structure of the working groups includes senior, experienced scientists from academia, science councils and private enterprises, all of whom volunteer their time. They work closely with DIPLOMICS management, which includes paid coordinators who are also domain experts.
As experts in their fields, the working group members provide vital information on infrastructure gaps and their potential solutions. Working closely with DIPLOMICS management as well as the vendor community, we collectively develop interventions such as; buying and deploying instruments, training programs for technicians, service and maintenance contracts and showcasing new technologies.
The working groups provide information on activities (e.g. current market demands), trends and future opportunities in Omics. The working groups also provide information on the challenges they face in competing in a global Omics marketplace, such as pricing, perception of quality and turnaround time.
Genomics

Tulio de Olivera
KRISP & Chair

Farai Muchadeyi
ARC

Carel van Heerden
CAF

Craig Kinnear
SAMRC

Renée Prins
CENGEN

Judith Hornby
CPGR
Proteomics & Metabolomics

Jonathan Blackburn
UCT & Chair

Stoyan Stoychev
CSIR

Liam Bell
CPGR & Coordinator

Previn Naicker
CSIR & Coordinator

Chris Vorster
NWU
Bioinformatics

Nicky Mulder
UCT & Chair

Scott Hazelhurst
WITS

Eduan Wilkinson
KRISP

Patrick Charls
MRC

Paidamoyo Kachambwa
CPGR & Coordinator

Jacquiline Mugo
CPGR & (Acting) Coordinator
GOVERNANCE & ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
DIPLOMICS is one of eight Research Infrastructures of the Department of Science and Innovation’s SARIR program.
The CPGR hosts DIPLOMICS and is responsible for governing and managing the programme.
