The Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of Ghana Medical School recently hosted two inaugural training workshops with the support of the Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health, USA.
These workshops, held in April and May 2024, aimed to equip West African nationals with cutting-edge knowledge and skills in Antimicrobial Resistance, Microbial Genomics, and Bioinformatics.
Participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Benin, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Sierra Leone attended these comprehensive training sessions, which featured contributions from renowned international experts.
Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop
The first workshop, held from April 22-26, 2024, focused on Antimicrobial Resistance. It covered critical topics such as Genomics, Epidemiology, Research Methodology, and Quality Assurance of Laboratory Data.
In addition to these core subjects, the workshop also provided training in systematic reviews and scientific writing, essential skills for advancing research and publication in the field.
Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics Workshop
The second workshop, which ran from May 6-10, 2024, delved into Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics. Participants received hands-on training in these areas, gaining practical experience that is crucial for modern research in microbial sciences.
The workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of West African researchers in utilizing genomic and bioinformatic tools for studying microbial pathogens.
Expertise and Collaboration
The workshops were facilitated by experts from the University of Ghana, Washington University School of Medicine (USA), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK), Sanger Institute (UK), and Obafemi Awolowo University (Nigeria). This collaboration brought together a diverse pool of knowledge and expertise, providing participants with a rich learning experience.
Funding and Future Workshops
These workshops are part of two significant research training programmes funded by the FIC and spearheaded by the University of Ghana.
The programmes include the Research and Capacity Building in Antimicrobial Resistance in West Africa (RECABAW) Training Programme (D43TW012487) and the Application of Data Science to Build Research Capacity in Zoonoses and Foodborne Infections (DS-ZOOFOOD) Training Programme (UE5TW012566).
The Principal Investigator and Programme Director of these initiatives, Professor Eric Sampane-Donkor, expressed satisfaction with the success of the maiden workshops.
He emphasized that these training programmes will continue annually over the next few years, addressing critical needs in infectious disease research in West Africa by bringing high-level experts to the University of Ghana. ug.edu.gh