Legon in research collaboration with institutions in Japan

Accra, Aug. 26, GNA - The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) on Monday, launched a research collaboration with the Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and the Research Institute of Tuberculosis, (RIT) Japan.

The collaboration which is aimed at providing a platform for scientists to research into various infectious diseases, would also train young scientists from both countries in infectious and biomedical research.

Professor Alexander K. Nyarko, Director, NMIMR, said scientists from the three institutions would engage in research into HIV, tuberculosis, establish a database for parasitic diseases and investigate drug targets for African trypanosomiasis. He thanked the Japanese government for providing direct funding to the collaboration, saying the knowledge to be gained by scientists from each other, would adequately prepare them against the threat of infectious and other emerging diseases.

"We believe that this venture, in addition to generating data, will enable both Ghanaian and Japanese scientists to learn together and from each other and get themselves ready against the treat of infectious diseases and even emerging diseases," he said. Prof. Nyarko said emerging global trends of infectious diseases was crucial for every country to be adequately prepared to combat any epidemic outbreaks, citing global disease epidemics such as the SARS, Avian Influenza and currently the H1N1 pandemic.

He said no country was insulated against any dreadful pandemics and that without adequate preparation, "we will find ourselves unprepared against such threats".

He called for stakeholders support in the area of resources, adding that institutions such as the NMIMR, needed to be constantly resourced to improve on its preparedness for effective response to any biomedical challenges.

According to Professor Clifford Nii Boye Tagoe, Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana, the NIMIMR had long played a central role in promoting medical sciences in the West African Sub-Region and had an extensive history of collaborative research with Japan and other West African countries.

He also mentioned the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which had since 1968 played various roles in funding medical research projects in Ghana and leading many Japanese universities and hospitals which had cooperated in strengthening the local medical sector. Prof. Tagoe said African universities were faced with numerous challenges with high demands, citing inadequate infrastructure, funding for research projects and unmet services and thanked the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana for showing consistent interest in the programmes of the NMIMR.

He urged young research scientists to take full advantage of the collaboration to improve upon their public health knowledge and their readiness to combat any epidemic situation in their countries. Mr Keiichi Katakami, Ambassador of Japan who launched the research collaboration said it was an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan in strengthening cooperation between researchers in Japan and developing countries.

He explained that the agreement which was officially signed between the NMIMR, TMDU and RIT on May 28, 2008 would also help in the development of human resources in both countries.

Professor Takashi Ohyama, President, TMDU, said medical research into infectious diseases was still evolving and the need to build reliable data to monitor disease trends was important for rapid solutions, adding that the TMDU was preparing to establish two more collaborations with universities in Chile and Thailand to help bring hope to humanity as far as disease control and treatment were concerned. Mr Ohyama charged all the staff of the three institutions to exhibit high levels of selfless attitudes, as exhibited by Dr Hideyo Noguchi, a Japanese Biologist who died while researching in Ghana, to help sustain his legacy of researching into communicable diseases. The centre was named after the Japanese Biologist.

Dr George Sipa-Adja Yankey, Minister of Health, commended the NMIMR for securing such collaboration and expressed his gratitude for the support, which he said, would go a long way to improve upon disease management and treatment in public health.

Professor Aaron Lante Lawson, Provost of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, said the research collaboration stands to benefit the College as it would help nurture young talented scientists to pursue researches without much frustration. He pledged the college's commitment and support and further urged faculty members and young researchers to take advantage of the programme. 26 August 09