Highlights
- Capacity Building: Training strengthened participants’ skills in biospecimen handling, genomic data analysis, and research governance.
- Collaborative Effort: Organised by MRCG at LSHTM with PANGenS and funded by Global Health EDCTP3 to foster sustainable research networks in Africa.
- Ethical Standards: Emphasis on legal frameworks, data protection, and quality assurance in genomic research.
Held in collaboration with the Pan-Africa Network for Genomic Surveillance of Poverty Related Disease and Emerging Pathogens (PANGenS), and funded by the Global Health EDCTP3, the six-day training brought together 31 researchers from 11 African countries.
The workshop is designed to strengthen participants’ skills in biobanking and data management, with a strong focus on ethical standards, legal frameworks, and best practices for handling genomic data.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Davis Nwakanma, Chief Operations Officer at MRCG at LSHTM, encouraged participants to make the most of their time.
“It is a pleasure to welcome participants from across the continent to the MRCG. Our commitment to scientific excellence goes beyond national borders, and it is through initiatives like this that we continue to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and drive impactful research across Africa,” he stated.
As part of a broader vision to foster sustainable research ecosystems in Africa, Dembo Kanteh, Head of Strategic Partnerships at MRCG at LSHTM, highlighted the importance of advancing the science through partnerships.
“Through joint grant applications and collaborative capacity building, we’re building long-term research ecosystems. PANGenS is a perfect example of what partnerships can achieve.”
Dr Bright Adu, a participant and PANGenS work package II lead said;
“We are focused on strengthening skills in both biobanking and data management, with a particular emphasis on genomic data. This training is designed to help participants manage and analyse complex data.
We are grateful to MRCG for the collaboration. This is the second time this training has been delivered, and we value the continued partnership.”
Tracy Afia Achaa Asirifi, a Quality Coordinator at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana (UG), said;
“This training has deepened my technical and ethical competencies in biobanking and data management. It has equipped me with practical insights into biospecimen collection, storage, and governance, as well as critical knowledge on data protection, and quality assurance.”
Saïdou Mahmoudou, a participant and Head of Data Management and Statistics department at the Lambaréné Medical Research Centre (CERMEL) in Gabon, recognised the significance of the training as highlighted the value of the training as a vital opportunity to enhance both knowledge and technical capacity;
“As a data manager, strengthening my expertise in clinical trial data management is essential and this training plays a key role in that,” he emphasised.
PANGenS is a consortium of scientists from public health institutions in three European countries namely Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland and 12 African countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Liberia, Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique and Gabon. It is hoped that this training will boost standards excellence in research.
About the Author
Biobanking.com delivers valuable news and information on biobanking, biorepositories, cryopreservation, and biosample/biospecimen management, while connects buyers with top vendors globally.
