New scholarship program to support next generation of African science leaders

Ten African scientists have been selected for training in the National Institutes of Health as part of a new fellowship program aimed at strengthening research capacity in African countries and developing ongoing scientific partnerships. NIH, the African Academy of Sciences and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are collaborating on the creation of the Postgraduate Training Initiative in Africa.

The inaugural cohort will begin its work in the NIH host labs in early 2019. The NIH will provide two-year training under the responsibility of senior investigators sharing the research interests of the fellows. African scientists will then return to their original institutions and receive two years of support to continue research and establish themselves as independent investigators. NIH and the Gates Foundation together contribute about $ 4 million to the program.

"Our goal is to equip these talented African scholars with the skills necessary to become scientific leaders, ready to help solve the health problems of their country and train future generations of researchers," said NIH Director Francis S Collins, whose intramural research laboratory will host one of the fellows. "In designing the Postgraduate Training Initiative in Africa, which must begin at NIH and then continue in their home institution, we aim to prevent" brain drain ", strengthen sustainable research capabilities and to establish long-term collaborations between American scientists and African researchers and research institutions. "

"It is imperative to strengthen African scientific leadership to advance health and development goals on the continent.We are delighted to collaborate with NIH and the African Academy of Sciences to support these 10 outstanding researchers who are working to solve the world's biggest health problems, "said Trevor. Mundel, president of the Global Health division of the Gates Foundation. "To achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the world must accelerate innovation and global scientific collaboration." Training Provided by NIH, One of the Largest Biomedical Research Institutions in the world will help these scientists to develop the transformation solutions that the world and its communities urgently need. "

Fellows come from six African countries: Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Egypt. They have been paired with the laboratories of seven NIH Institutes and will study diseases and conditions that constitute research priorities in their respective countries, including infectious diseases, maternal and child health and diabetes.

The Fellowship Program is aimed at scientists at the beginning of their careers, holding a PhD and having less than five years of research experience. Candidates must also be citizens of an African country and employed in one of the continent's academic, research or government institutions.
The NIH Fogarty International Center coordinates the scholarship program. The African Academy of Sciences has managed the recruitment and selection process and plans to recruit another cohort in 2020.

Fellows and NIH hosts for the 2019 Africa Postgraduate Training Initiative

• Fellow: Dr. Idowu Aimola
  
  Originating Institution: Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
  
  Host Institution: National Institute for Human Genome Research
  
  Research Area: Diabetes, Maternal and Child Health

• Member: Dr. Nana Ama Amissah
  
  Originating Institution: Noguchi Memorial Medical Research Institute, Ghana
  
  Host Institution: National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases
  
  Research field: infectious diseases

• Member: Dr. Thomas Hormenu
  
  Originating Institution: University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  
  Host Institution: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  
  Research field: diabetes

• Member: Dr. Musa Kana
  
  Institution of origin: Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria
  
  Host Institution: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  
  Area of ​​Research: Tuberculosis, Respiratory Diseases, Child Health

• Member: Dr. Rania Labib
  
  Originating Institution: Hospital for Children with Cancer, Egypt
  
  Host Institution: National Cancer Institute
  
  Research Area: Child Health

• Member: Dr. Hamma Maiga
  
  Institution of origin: National Institute of Public Health Research, Mali
  
  Host Institution: National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases
  
  Research Area: Malaria, Maternal and Child Health

• Member: Dr. Bartholomew Ondigo
  
  Originating Institution: Egerton University, Kenya
  
  Host Institution: National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases
  
  Research field: Malaria

• Member: Dr. Kolapo Oyebola
  
  Institution of origin: University of Lagos, Nigeria
  
  Host Institution: National Institute of Heart, Lungs and Blood
  
  Research field: sickle cell disease

• Member: Dr. Irene Offei Owusu
  
  Originating Institution: Noguchi Memorial Medical Research Institute, Ghana
  
  Host Institution: National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases
  
  Research field: infectious diseases, viruses

• Member: Dr. Markos Tesfaye Woldeyohannes
  
  Originating Institution: Millennium Medical College, Ethiopia, Saint Paul Hospital
  
  Hospitality Institution: National Institute for Nursing Research
  
  Research Area: Child Health

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About the Fogarty International Center: The Center addresses global health issues through innovative and collaborative research and training programs, and supports and advances the NIH mission through international partnerships. For more information, visit http: // www.fic.nih.government.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): The NIH, the country's medical research agency, comprises 27 institutes and centers and is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the lead federal agency that leads and supports basic, clinical and translational medical research. She studies causes, treatments and treatments for common and rare diseases. For more information on NIH and its programs, visit http: // www.nih.government.