When the Code Speaks

Governing the Genome: Whose Data, Whose Benefit?

As genomic medicine advances, questions around consent, data sharing, ownership and trust are becoming increasingly important. In this episode of When the Code Speaks, we are joined by Prof Jantina de Vries and Dr Melissa Nel to explore the ethical and governance challenges that sit at the heart of genomic research.
Together, we discuss what responsible data stewardship looks like in an African context, why community engagement matters, how genomic data can be shared ethically and what it takes to ensure that the benefits of research are returned to the communities who make it possible. This conversation highlights the critical role of ethics in building a genomic future that is equitable, trustworthy and sustainable.

Detangling Genomic Data: The role of bioinformatics in understanding disease

When most people think about genomic medicine, they think about patients, doctors, or DNA sequencing. But what happens after the data is generated?
In this episode of When the Code Speaks, we sit down with Gideon A. Wiafe and Dr Armin Deffur to explore the world of bioinformatics; the field that transforms vast amounts of genomic data into meaningful insights that can inform research, diagnosis and patient care.
Together, we unpack what bioinformaticians actually do, why African genomic data matters, the challenges of building computational capacity in South Africa and how artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the landscape of genomic analysis.
It’s a conversation about the people and technologies working behind the scenes to make genomic medicine possible.

Genomic Data Meets Clinical Care: How doctors interpret and act on genetic findings

This episode of When the Code Speaks explores what happens when genomic data meets real clinical decision-making. Joined by Prof Alina Esterhuizen, Prof Jo Wilmshurst and Prof Karen Fieggen, this conversation unpacks the challenges of interpreting genetic findings in South Africa’s healthcare landscape — from diagnostic uncertainty and multidisciplinary collaboration to the realities of integrating genomic medicine into patient care. Together, they reflect on the promise of personalised medicine, the limitations of current systems and what it will take to build sustainable clinical genomics services locally.

Counselling in the Genomics Era: Conversations that matter

In Episode 1 of When the Code Speaks, we explore the evolving role of genetic counsellors in South Africa’s genomic medicine landscape — from supporting patients and families through difficult diagnoses to contributing to variant interpretation, research and multidisciplinary care.
Joined by Nakita Laing, Nabeelah Peerbhai and Zandre Bruwer, this conversation unpacks the human side of genomic medicine and the often invisible work that connects data, diagnosis and patient care. Together, we discuss how counselling is changing in the genomic era, the challenges of working in resource-limited systems, and why investing in this profession is essential for the future of personalised medicine in South Africa.