BioMed X Institute has partnered with the Government of Barbados to advance the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases in individuals of African descent. This initiative, supported by the European Commission’s PharmaNext program, will begin with a two-year pilot project focusing on molecular characterization of patients in Barbados.

Cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions, continue to rise globally. Individuals of African descent face a significant burden of these diseases, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in clinical research and treatment optimization efforts. According to BioMedX, current clinical trials often fail to include sufficient participants of African descent, limiting the efficacy and safety of new therapies for this important patient group.

The BioMed X Barbados project will tackle this disparity by employing artificial intelligence (AI) and deep molecular characterization techniques. The initiative will conduct an epidemiological study in Barbados, collecting samples and clinical history data from cardiometabolic patients and healthy individuals. The patient samples will be subjected to deep molecular profiling using technologies such as DNA sequencing, proteomic analysis, and flow cytometry. The integration of these datasets with publicly available clinical and molecular data from age- and gender-matched Caucasian subjects, allows BioMed X to develop AI models that will allow the optimization of available cardiometabolic treatment regimens for the Black population. Based on the initial financial support from the Government of Barbados and the European Commission, BioMed X Barbados aims to attract additional funding from global pharmaceutical companies, development banks, and foundations.

“This partnership with the Government of Barbados represents a significant step towards addressing historical inequities in biomedical research and development of new therapies,” said Dr. Christian Tidona, Managing Director of the BioMed X Institute. “Leveraging state-of-the-art molecular techniques and AI enables us to make an impact on the lives of millions of people of African descent, ensuring that they receive the best possible treatments.”

The Government of Barbados is providing strong support for the initiative, recognizing its potential to position Barbados as a leading hub for biomedical research in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the European Commission’s support through the PharmaNext program further reinforces the importance of international collaboration in tackling global health challenges.