SOUTH AFRICA – LifeArc, a UK not-for-profit medical research organization, has invested US$9.54 million into the Francis Crick Institute’s Crick Africa Network (CAN) program.
The infusion into CAN is set to extend for a further five years, supporting more young African scientists to build their careers in research.
The program will offer Career Accelerator Fellowships for post-doctoral biomedical researchers to develop their research into translational scientific programs and to become independent scientists, building their careers on the African continent.
Specifically, CAN Fellows will receive four years of funding hosted at one of five African partner institutions; West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Medical Research Council Unit (MRC) in The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and Medical Research Council at the Uganda Virus Research (MRC/UVRI) Institute- LSHTM Uganda Research Unit.
Furthermore, the young African Researchers will also have the opportunity to utilize the world-class research and laboratory facilities and platforms at the Crick as well as at LifeArc’s state-of-the-art facilities in Stevenage and Edinburgh.
CAN will also offer them mentorship and support in grant writing, publications, research ethics, as well as translational science and commercialization delivered by LifeArc’s Academic Engagement team.
Principal Group Leader at Francis Crick Institute and CAN’s Director, Dr. Jean Langhorne noted that low- and middle-income countries face the biggest threats from infectious disease, climate change and related health impacts.
However, he added that their scientists, who are best placed to pose and answer the right research questions, often lack the resources and connections.
The Program Director reiterated that CAN was committed to redressing the imbalance and creating equitable partnerships with scientists in Africa.
“We’ve already seen incredible success from our previous fellows who are establishing themselves as science leaders, growing scientific and training capacity in Africa, and contributing to global biomedical research,” Dr. Langhorne said.
In another addition to the program, CAN will now support Technology Development Fellows – one-year training posts for African-based scientists in the management and development of science and technology platforms that provides critical technical research support.
A new mandate to enhance collaboration in translational science
LifeArc notes that its building focus on translational science, more so by bridging the gap between academic research and clinical development.
They will do this by providing funding, research, and expert advice, all with a commitment to having a positive impact on patient lives.
Hence, having LifeArc as part of CAN will bring a unique translational focus to the program, ensuring that research addresses the unmet medical needs and bridges the gap between basic discovery science and the development of new diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments.
Dr Mike Strange, Head of Global Health at LifeArc said, “LifeArc is committed to investing over £100 million in global health, with a focus on infectious diseases, over the coming years. We are delighted that one of our first announcements as part of this, is our support of the Crick Africa Network.”
Dr. Strange added that LifeArc aimed to focus its efforts where the need of patients are the greatest and where it can make a unique contribution and thus pursuing collaborative partnerships will drive innovation.
“Our partnership with CAN will help create a more equitable and sustainable global health research ecosystem is core to what we are trying to achieve. We look forward to working with the fellows as they build their careers,” responded Dr. Strange.
The CAN fellowship program
Since it was first established in 2017, 18 CAN Fellows have progressed through the unique program, building their own careers and furthering their research in infectious diseases.
Achievements from the first cohort include the publication of 82 academic publications, over US$14.5 million secured in grant funding, and 97 students supervised, building training capacity for the next generation of African scientists.
Dr. Peter Quashie, a Former CAN Fellow, is now the deputy director of research at WACCBIP, University of Ghana.
Dr. Quashie emphasized that the leadership training that he benefited from early on in my CAN Fellowship was instrumental in helping him plan his career, supervise students and staff, and apply for grants.
Moreover, he quipped that by allowing flexibility to pursue COVID-19 research when other research had stalled, CAN allowed him to shine and become known as a scientist repute, beyond HIV.
“As a result, I drove a lot of center-level COVID-19 projects and helped obtain over $3 million in funding to WACCBIP,” Dr. Quashie said.
Notably, also Biotech spin-out Yemaachi Biotechnology was launched after the Crick Africa Network’s establishment and the Ghanaian company seeks to optimize available molecular diagnostic and prognostic cancer tests for African Populations.
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