Training West African Public Health and Clinical Research Professionals to Conduct Pan-Pathogen Surveillance Using Sustainable and Effective Genetic, Molecular, and Serological Approaches (TWA-PPPSA)

Project Information in NIH RePORTER

Training West African Public Health and Clinical Research Professionals to Conduct Pan-Pathogen Surveillance Using Sustainable and Effective Genetic, Molecular, and Serological Approaches (TWA-PPPSA)

Principal Institution

Columbia University Health Sciences

Principal Investigator(s) (PI)

Wickiser, John Kenneth; Doumbia, Seydou

Project Contact Information

Email: jkw2161@cumc.columbia.edu

Year(s) Awarded

2024-2029

Country

Liberia

NIH Partners

NIAID

Project Description

We propose here to train, facilitate, and sustain current and future public health in Western Africa by developing the in-country workforce to independently conduct pan-pathogen surveillance assays and to analyze and share the resulting data by

1. taking advantage of the transition of existing U.S./Columbia University-based GAPP Workforce Development training program for capture sequencing to the Mali-University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) Team for Western Africa regional network,
2. creating and implementing scientific writing courses at UCRC using both in-person and remote methods to West African partners focusing on using data generated to produce posters, reports, journal articles, and funding proposals, and
3. creating and implementing the masters in science in molecular biology program at UCRC/USTTB.

The success of this training program will increase the ability of Mali and other Western Africa countries to become more efficient and independent in their medical surveillance programs. It will also increase the capabilities of our young scientists to step into the global research community.

Related World Regions / Countries

• Sub-Saharan Africa