Biomedical research fellowship aims to build capacity in Africa

The fellowship will aim to build research capacity Copyright: Flickr/US Army

By: Esther Nakkazi

We encourage you to republish this article online and in print, it’s free under our creative commons attribution license, but please follow some simple guidelines:

You have to credit our authors.
You have to credit SciDev.Net — where possible include our logo with a link back to the original article.
You can simply run the first few lines of the article and then add: “Read the full article on SciDev.Net” containing a link back to the original article.
If you want to also take images published in this story you will need to confirm with the original source if you're licensed to use them.
The easiest way to get the article on your site is to embed the code below.

For more information view our media page and republishing guidelines.

The full article is available here as HTML.

Press Ctrl-C to copy

<div class="article-wrap">
<div id="article-introduction">
<h1>Biomedical research fellowship aims to build capacity in Africa</h1>
<h4>By: Esther Nakkazi</h4>
</div>
<br />
<br />

<div id="article-body">
<p><span>[KAMPALA] Two European research bodies are collaborating on a clinical <a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/science-and-innovation-policy/r-d-in-africa/">research</a> fellowship scheme to train biomedical students in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the first open call for applications expected later this year.</span></p>
<p>The award, funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries is competitive and aimed at African professionals involved in clinical health research in Sub-Saharan Africa.</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<div class="box" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; background: #ededed; width: 50%; float: left;">
<div class="inherit_box box">
<h3 style="color: #ffffff; margin: 0px;">SPEED READ</h3>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="list-style: disc outside; margin: 10px 5px 10px 20px;">
<li style="padding: 0 0 5px;">A new fellowship will train African biomedical students in European pharmaceutical companies</li>
<li style="padding: 0 0 5px;">It comes amidst concerns that biomedical researchers have a lack of opportunities in their home countries</li>
<li style="padding: 0 0 5px;">Experts say the fellowship will help build capacity across the continent</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<p><span>Awardees will be able to train at selected pharmaceutical companies in  Europe. The fellowships will focus on advanced methods and techniques  related to clinical trials.</span></p>
<p><span>EDCTP spokesman Gert Onne van de Kalshorst said they were unable to provide more precise details on the amount of money involved and the number of scholarships that will be made available.</span></p>
<p>The award<span> comes against a backdrop of complaints that biomedical scientists trained at home get low levels of engagement and no access to leadership roles in clinical trials research.</span></p>
<p>"This [new fellowship] will enable African researchers and their institutions to compete successfully for research funding, and to contribute to the global research effort to fight diseases that are still a heavy burden in Africa," says Gabrielle Breugelmans, EDCTP North-North Networking Manager.</p>
<p>Charles Mgone, EDCTP executive director, says: "It is critical that more African researchers [get] sufficiently trained and equipped with skills and expertise in clinical trials research to fight diseases that severely impact the social and economic development of the region".</p>
<p>The fellowship scheme is open to those involved in clinical health research such as medical doctors and nurses at institutions based or operating in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is not only for established, experienced scientists, but also aimed at mid-career scientists, according to Mgone.</p>
<p>According to Steven Baveewo, a researcher at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, the fellowship will help in building human capacity in Africa.</p>
<p>"The current training in Africa puts emphasis in areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics, proposal writing, manuscript writing, designing, data management and data analysis but skill gaps remain in the systematic implementation especially among investigator initiated research projects," Baveewo tells <em>SciDev.Net</em>.</p>
<p><span>Africa holds ten per cent of all pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials globally and yet has the highest burden of diseases globally, according to Baveewo.</span></p>
<p><span>It is hoped that the programme will also accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides, and diagnostics against <a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/health/hiv-aids/">HIV/AIDS</a>, <a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/health/tuberculosis/">tuberculosis</a> and <a href="http://www.scidev.net/en/health/malaria/">malaria</a>.</span></p>
<p><em><span>This article has been produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa desk.</span></em></p>

</div>
<div class="quick-links-wrapper">
<h3>You might also like</h3>
[related-articles]
</div>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/biomedical-research-fellowship-aims-to-build-capacity-in-africa/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
(function(e,t,n,r,i,s,o){e["GoogleAnalyticsObject"]=i;e[i]=e[i]||function(){(e[i].q=e[i].q||[]).push(arguments)},e[i].l=1*new Date;s=t.createElement(n),o=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];s.async=1;s.src=r;o.parentNode.insertBefore(s,o)})(window,document,"script","//www.google-analytics.com/ga.js","ga");var _gaq=_gaq||[];var _gaq=_gaq||[];_gaq.push(["_setAccount","UA-3223906-8"],["_trackEvent","article interaction","republished","https://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/news/biomedical-research-fellowship-aims-to-build-capacity-in-africa/",null,true])
</script>
</div>

[KAMPALA] Two European research bodies are collaborating on a clinical research fellowship scheme to train biomedical students in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the first open call for applications expected later this year.

The award, funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries is competitive and aimed at African professionals involved in clinical health research in Sub-Saharan Africa.

SPEED READ

A new fellowship will train African biomedical students in European pharmaceutical companies
It comes amidst concerns that biomedical researchers have a lack of opportunities in their home countries
Experts say the fellowship will help build capacity across the continent

Awardees will be able to train at selected pharmaceutical companies in Europe. The fellowships will focus on advanced methods and techniques related to clinical trials.

EDCTP spokesman Gert Onne van de Kalshorst said they were unable to provide more precise details on the amount of money involved and the number of scholarships that will be made available.

The award comes against a backdrop of complaints that biomedical scientists trained at home get low levels of engagement and no access to leadership roles in clinical trials research.

"This [new fellowship] will enable African researchers and their institutions to compete successfully for research funding, and to contribute to the global research effort to fight diseases that are still a heavy burden in Africa," says Gabrielle Breugelmans, EDCTP North-North Networking Manager.

Charles Mgone, EDCTP executive director, says: "It is critical that more African researchers [get] sufficiently trained and equipped with skills and expertise in clinical trials research to fight diseases that severely impact the social and economic development of the region".

The fellowship scheme is open to those involved in clinical health research such as medical doctors and nurses at institutions based or operating in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is not only for established, experienced scientists, but also aimed at mid-career scientists, according to Mgone.

According to Steven Baveewo, a researcher at the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, the fellowship will help in building human capacity in Africa.

"The current training in Africa puts emphasis in areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics, proposal writing, manuscript writing, designing, data management and data analysis but skill gaps remain in the systematic implementation especially among investigator initiated research projects," Baveewo tells SciDev.Net.

Africa holds ten per cent of all pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials globally and yet has the highest burden of diseases globally, according to Baveewo.

It is hoped that the programme will also accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides, and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

This article has been produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa desk.