New Initiative Launched to Support Research in Africa

NEWS New initiative launched to support research in Africa Newton Kumwenda knows firsthand the the best researchers often leave the country. consortium consists of several universities and barriers to conducting biomedical research in That could begin to change with a new research institutions within Africa, which have Africa’s poorest countries. program announced by The Wellcome Trust forged partnerships with universities in the UK, As an epidemiologist at the University of on 2 July, dubbed the African Institutions Australia, Europe or the US. Malawi, he has produced more than a dozen Initiative. The London-based charity will invest Kumwenda will lead one such consortium, papers on HIV within the last two years. He can £30 million ($50 million) over five years in the which will receive £6 million to boost research find qualified nurses and doctors for his clinical program, which aims to bolster the capacity at the University of Malawi, the University of trials—even amid a shortage. But, he says, “it’s for scientific research at African institutions, Zambia and the University of Zimbabwe. Much very difficult to get people at the scientific mainly universities. of the money will go to funding individual level—people who can analyze the data and Seven research consortiums, picked out of 88 research projects and constructing education come up with new scientific questions.” What’s initial applications, will use the funds to bolster programs for masters, PhD and postdoctoral more, universities such as his often do not have research activities in a range of fields, from researchers. the capacity to administer scientific grants, and infectious disease to environmental health. Each “Our main objective is to build a critical mass of research scientists,” says Kumwenda. Scientists will be trained at these three universities, but outside collaborations will increase access Medical research charities brace for to mentorship, advice and resources. These collaborators include several universities in economic impact the UK, the University of Botswana and The University of Cape Town in South Africa, The majority of charities that fund medical The biggest drop probably won’t come which have better research infrastructure. The research are bracing for the impact of the from public citizens feeling the pinch. consortium will also provide administration current economic recession, and they’re According to the UK-based Institute of to help scientists win competitive grants from making an early call for help. Fundraising, public donations for all outside sources. According to a survey released on 27 charities are only down 3–4%. In the Jimmy Whitworth, who heads the new May by the UK-based Association of US, meanwhile, information gathered by initiative at the Wellcome Trust, says that Medical Research Charities (AMRC), three- the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana international donors have in the past focused quarters of the organization’s affiliated University shows that public donations more on funding stand-alone research centers charities expect the economic downturn have been affected very little by past instead of universities. “There is a real need to to have a marked impact on their income. recessions. A quarter of the charities expect to cut The most substantial impact will instead bring the teaching and the research and clinical funding for research between 10% and come from a devaluing of investments. services together,” he says. “At the moment, 40% this year. Many medical research charities survive research is done elsewhere, and it’s not seen as Income sources for the charities primarily on this income. a mainstream career.” The new initiative dovetails with other efforts © All rights reserved. 2009 Inc. Nature America, are many and varied, thus few of the In the US, charities provide about 3% organizations have good estimates as of the amount spent on medical research to boost research in Africa and other low- to how much their income will drop for (J. Am. Med. Assoc. 294, 1333–1342; and middle-income nations. These include a the 2009–2010 year, said Sophie Petit- 2005), whereas 30% is delivered by long-running program at the World Health Zeman, head of external relations for the the National Institutes of Health. In the Organization, the Special Program for Research AMRC. UK, however, the amount from charities and Training in Tropical Diseases, and the is on par with that distributed by the European and Developing Countries Clinical government. Trials Partnership (EDCTP), a program that Along with its call for continued public supports clinical trials for HIV/AIDS, malaria support, the AMRC is requesting that and tuberculosis. the UK government increase funding for Charles Mgone, the director of the EDCTP, medical research while offering tax breaks helped review the applications for the new and regulatory initiatives that would make Wellcome Trust initiative; “we are trying to funding easier, Petit-Zeman said. synergize how we work together,” he says. He “We know funding is down,” says Ron praises both initiatives for “empowering African MacInnis, director of policy and programs governments and African scientists to empower at the International AIDS Society. “But, themselves.” with the way grants and funding work, Other institutions are making similar moves. right now we’re working with money from On 10 June the US National Institutes of Health a year and a half ago when the giving was announced a $34 million program to fund ten good. We have a time lag, and we have research and training centers based in low- to take action now to take advantage of or middle-income countries to prevent and istockphoto that.” control chronic diseases, including one center Tough times: Nonprofits ask for help Stu Hutson, Gainesville, Florida in Africa, at the University of Cape Town. Charlotte Schubert, Washington, DC 712 VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 7 | JULY 2009 NATURE MEDICINE.

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