Researchers urge Govt to prioritise translational research
Facilitators at the Grantsmanship and Mentorship programme organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR Foundation), have urged government to priorities translational research in the country.
The facilitators spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, at the 4th biannual programme taking place at Yaba, Lagos.
NAN reports that 30 participants from the six geo-political zones in the country are currently participating in the two weeks programme aimed at enhancing researchers skills in developing high-quality and competitive grant proposals.
A Professor of Periodontology at the University of Benin, Adebola Ehizele, told NAN that translational research would play a key role in addressing and providing solutions to health issues peculiar to the country.
Ehizele said that NIMR Foundation was already taking the lead in ensuring that researches which are carried out, are translated into policies through its grantsmanship and mentorship training for researchers across the country.
“Translational research is the way to go to address some of our health challenges as a nation.
“Whatever evidence that is generated during research is taken to the next level, to be translated to either a product or some form of solution to some of our health issues.
“This is what NIMR Foundation is all about and the government must do more to support and promote translational research in the country,” she said.
Also, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, an Assistant Professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine, North Carolina in U.S., said availability of funds for research work and sustainability was essential in promoting translational research.
Nwaozuru, also an Adjunct Fellow Researcher in NIMR, advised researchers to carry out investigations that are centred on issues peculiar to the country.
She, however, commended NIMR Foundation for enhancing the capacity of investigators across the country through its grantsmanship and mentorship for researchers.
“There is need for us to do researches that are relevant to our context, so that whatever outcome in terms of the findings, will be applicable when the need arises.
“There are a lot of challenges when it comes to sustainability of research or even translating it, and this is why we need resources or funds within the country to tackle these health challenges,” she said.
Another facilitator, Dr Uwa Okhuarobo, a Field Epidemiologist at the Nigeria Field Epidemiology Programme, urged government to leverage NIMR Foundation programme to further expand the country’s research capacity.
“I believe it will be a good opportunity for us in Nigeria to use NIMR Foundation platform to support and promote translational research.
“This can help to shape the health sector with innovative research that can be translated to innovative solutions to our various health issues and advertise Nigeria and Africa to the rest of the world,” he said.
NAN reports that the NIMR Foundation is a private, non-profit organisation established by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in 2018.
The foundation was registered in February 2020 with the Corporate Affairs Commission and has the Chairman of its Board of Trustees as Babatunde Fashola, a former Governor of Lagos state.
It also has the mandate to expand the capacity for translational research among early career investigators and promote innovation, development and commercialisation of home-grown medicines, vaccines and technologies to address the country’s health challenges.
