TReND in Africa: advancing science and research in Sub-Saharan Universities Teaching and Research...

TReND in Africa:advancing science and research in Sub-Saharan

Universities

Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa

Jorge Iván Castillo-QuanGrant Advisor & London Contact

Overview

• Why Africa?

• Mammalian VS Insects as model organisms.

• What is TReND

• What do we do?


www.trendinafrica.org







"Because there is no research culture at many African universities, people do not see science as an

attractive option."



"What is lacking at the international level is an understanding of the importance of research and development, particularly within Africa, in the fight

against disease."

Pascoal Mocumbi Primer Minister of Mozambique 1994-2004.



"Africans need to build scientific capacity so that we can develop our own models, validated over Africa."

Anthony NyongHeadGender, Climate Change and Sustainable Development UnitAfrican Development Bank



Enrolment rates in higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa are by far the lowest in the world



Source: Bloom D., et al. Higher education and Economic Development in Africa. World Bank, 2006.

Knowledge Economic Index: country's ability to generate, adopt and diffuse knowledge



Source: Bloom D., et al. Higher education and Economic Development in Africa. World Bank, 2006.

Many problems

• Lack of funding agencies.• Poor governmental support.• Corruption.• Energy supply.• Insufficient equipment. • Lack of appropriate training.• Use of expensive model organisms.



• Only use rats as model organisms



Lucia Prieto-Godino Sadiq Yusuf





What is the relationship between flies and us?

• We share 60% of our DNA.

• 70% of known human disease genes have Drosophila counterparts.

• The list continues…!

Why flies?



Drosophila melanogaster has probably taught us more about genetics than

any other animal on earth



Fly brainbow



Flies have a heart…!



Wessells RJ, et al. Nat Genet 2004.

Flies show complex behaviours







We use African flies in our lab…!

We use flies collected in 1970’s from Dahomey (outbred population), now the Republic of Benin. We keep our flies in large population cages with overlapping generations.

You will use these flies for the practicals!!!

French Dahomey





The first course - 2011



• Designed a 3-week course (CSHL – MBL style)• 50 applications (graduate students around Africa).• HUGE Success!

The second course –

1st IBRO course on Insect Neuroscience and Drosophila Neurogenetics





Furnishing labs

Everything used for the course stays at the host university (KIU, Uganda).

Our equipment comes from our own labs or from the generosity of other laboratories.

The industry is responding with important donations.

What do we teach?





What do we teach?



What do we teach?





What do we teach?



What do we teach?

Applications from all Africa!



• Nigeria

• Uganda

• Kenya

• Cameroon

• Ethiopia

• Tanzania

• Malawi

• Congo

• Ghana

• Egypt

• Sudan

• 1st year: 50 applications

• 2nd year: 60 applications

• 3rd year 60 applications

TReND in Africa NOW!





Erwin NeherNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1991



“The goal of Neuroscience research is nothing less than trying to understand ourselves – how we perceive, think, and feel. It is obvious that this endeavor should not be restricted to a fraction of the world. Developing countries have the human resources to contribute and need at least as urgently as other countries the benefits in medical care, which hope to emanate from brain research. Therefore, the efforts of TReND deserve the fullest support”



What are we up next?

• Probably this year (2013) our last in Uganda. We are planning to move to Mekelle University (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).

• Setting up an MSc in Neuroscience in Uganda (KIU).

• HUMAN TReND – Neurologists from USA to visit and interact with students in Egypt and Uganda.

• Several of our students have been awarded travelling grants to take courses in the UK and Asia (funded by Wellcome Trust and IBRO)

How can you help?



• Help us to create awareness.

• Do you have an expertise that can be helpful in Africa – talk to us.

• Do you know of laboratory equipment that is just sitting in a corner or you have a laptop that would like todonate?

• Make a monetary donation (visit our website).

Thanks to our sponsors!



Thanks for your attention…







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TReND in Africa: advancing science and research in Sub-Saharan Universities Teaching and Research...

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