Supporting the next generation of non-communicable disease research leaders in Africa – experience of the GSK Africa NCD Open Lab

Abstract

Background Background Despite a large and increasing non-communicable diseases (NCD) burden in Africa, research to inform NCD risk factors, management and outcomes in African populations is limited. Methods Methods The GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Africa NCD Open Lab targeted outstanding early career African scientists, providing funding and scientific support for projects designed and led by African investigators to increase NCD understanding. Applicants were eligible if based in research institutions/universities in Cameroon,

The Africa non-communicable diseases (NCD) Open Lab: Impact of a portfolio of clinical studies to deepen the understanding of NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa

“…Call 2 was launched in 2015, in collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council and the UK Medical Research Council via the Newton Fund [ 12 ], and was open to South African academics and clinicians to reflect the relative regional strength of the country’s research capabilities. Call 3 was launched in 2016 and targeted early-career researchers in Cameroon, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Tanzania [ 4 ].…”

“…An independent scientific advisory board – mainly comprising African scientists – reviewed, short-listed, and selected the project proposals to receive research funding, as detailed further in Gatsi et al [ 11 ] and Addo et al [ 4 ]. In brief, for each project proposal, the scientific advisory board reviewers evaluated the scientific merit; potential significance and impact; the feasibility of the proposed approach; the strategies and methods outlined; the applicant’s research environment and support; and the track record of the investigators [ 11 ].…”

“…Clinical research in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is predominantly funded by governments, foundations, or industry, and is often focussed on communicable diseases [ 4 – 7 ]. This leads to research funding and capability gaps in the region, particularly regarding NCDs [ 8 , 9 ].…”