The Genomics Core Facility at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in collaboration with the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have rolled out a two-week bacterial genomics and bioinformatics workshop from 7th to 18th August, 2023.
The training workshop which forms part of NMIMR and Africa CDC commitment to build capacity of scientists within the Sub-region brings together twenty (20) trainees from fourteen (14) different countries across all regions of Africa.
Through this training, participants will be equipped with both wet and dry lab skills and techniques in sequencing and analysing bacterial genomes to identify anitmicrobial resistance (AMR) markers to inform public health policy in their respective countries.
Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Director, NMIMR addressing participants
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Director of the Institute expressed her excitement about the training workshop pointing out that the workshop is among the many trainings between NMIMR and the Africa CDC to build the capacity of scientists.
“We are very happy to continue working with Africa CDC to increase the workforce in terms of biomedical science capability within the Africa Region. A silent pandemic that we are dealing with is the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Within the West African sub-region it is a pandemic. This calls for a very comprehensive program that is targeting at understanding the genomics”, Prof. Yeboah-Manu reiterated.
She explained further that knowing the mechanisms help scientists to run drug discovery approaches and equally help in developing rapid diagnostics.
“Now, because of genomics, you do GeneXpert within a few hour you are able to identify your results. This quickly directs the clinician the action to take”, She said.
She encouraged the participants to embrace this opportunity and participate actively in the workshop. Adding that “I see this training as crucial. Let us not see this only as an academic training but also as part of our day-to-day activity. I urge you all to take active participation and more importantly, use this opportunity for regional collaborations”.
Dr. Bright Adu, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Immunology speaking to participants
Cross-section view of participants at the training workshop
The training participants from Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mali, Togo, Burundi, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, South Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameroon, Zambia, Chad, Uganda, and Congo believe that the training will give them the requisite skills they will need as biomedical scientists.
According to them, new methods for conducting research with speedy results are necessary for the growth of science, and as that biomedical scientists being trained in Bacterial Genomics and Bioinformatics will significantly increase their potential.