In a significant boost to the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa, the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) and the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD), a programme of the Task Force for Global Health (TFGH), have been awarded a five-year, cooperative agreement from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Enhancing Neglected Tropical Diseases Operational Research Project aims to address operational challenges, improve diagnostics, and support national governments and local institutions in their battle against NTDs.
Dr. John Humphrey Amuasi, Executive Director of ARNTD, highlighted the role of the Project in strengthening the research capacity of early career scientists: " Through our Small Grants Programme, we will be offering grants of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) to eight junior researchers and Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) to two mid-career scientists, enhancing their skills in protocol development, programme implementation, and effective communication of research findings."
The Project's scope impressed ARNTD Board Chairperson, Professor Gertruida Hester O'Neill, who noted that, "the project is unique in its focus on NTDs while addressing a broad spectrum of infections and incorporating basic research in social sciences across multiple countries. It aligns perfectly with ARNTD’s goals of promoting evidence-based research for capacity building."
Dr. Patrick Lammie, Director of the NTD Support Centre at the Task Force for Global Health, provided an overview of COR-NTD and the goals of the partnership with ARNTD.
“Our partnership aims to expand staff support for ARNTD to lead regional convening and coalition building, support research translation by national NTD programmes, and enhance our ability to secure additional resources,” he explained.
Professor Richard Odame Phillips, Scientific Director of Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, commended ARNTD's achievement, recalling its origins as a collaborative effort of NTD researchers from over twenty (20) countries, which KCCR chose to host. He noted that the Project's objectives align with KCCR's strategic focus on NTDs. The Director also highlighted ARNTD's history on successful collaborations since 2016.
Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, highlighted the University's commitment to sustainable partnerships: “the funding excites the Management of the University as it aligns with KNUST’s goals of fostering research and development."
The African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) is a network that focuses on research and collaboration to address Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa. ARNTD aims to enhance research capacity, promote partnerships, and support the dissemination of research findings to improve health outcomes related to NTDs in the African region.
