Training the next generation of African scientific leaders in global health
Nairobi, Kenya I Wednesday 7 June 2023
Ten outstanding early career scientists from nine African countries have been awarded four-year fellowships that will build their capacity to conduct cutting-edge research in global health. The fellowships will be awarded through the African Postdoctoral Training Initiative (APTI) programme, which is implemented by the African Academy of Sciences in partnership with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The APTI programme was established in 2019 to strengthen research capacity in African countries and develop ongoing scientific partnerships. APTI Fellows are trained and supported to become scientific leaders who can advocate for increased research and innovation projects in Africa. This is done through four-year postdoctoral fellowships where APTI Fellows join various laboratories of the NIH Institutes or Centers for two years before returning to their home institutions in Africa for another two years of program support. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s support to the postdoctoral fellows includes seed funding for their research upon their return to their home institution.
Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng, Executive Director at the African Academy of Sciences, says “Investing in early-career scientists is a vital ingredient in the transformation of Africa into a knowledge-based and technology-led continent. The AAS is committed to facilitating research and innovation exchanges to enhance African research leadership to transform lives in the continent and deliver the “Africa We Want”.”
This third cohort of the APTI Fellows (APTI 3) - five women and five men - will assume their positions in NIH host labs in October 2023. Their research activities shall focus on specific global health research priority areas including human immunobiology, microbiome research, drug discovery, genomics, HIV, malaria, maternal, neonatal and child health.
“This joint effort brings outstanding early-career African researchers to NIH and strengthens our research partnerships and research capacity in Africa over the long run,” said Dr Peter Kilmarx, acting director of the Fogarty International Center and acting associate director for International Research at NIH. “We’re thrilled to welcome these 10 new exceptional scientists with diverse research interests.”
The APTI 3 Fellows represent the best research talent on the continent, competitively selected from 296 applicants. The 10 new fellows join two other active cohorts whose details are available on the APTI Programme webpage.
Fellow: Amadou Niangaly
Home institution: University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako
Country: Mali
Research area: Malaria monoclonal antibodies
NOTES TO EDITORS
The African Academy of Sciences
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is a non-aligned, non-political, not-for-profit pan African organisation whose vision is to see transformed lives on the African continent through science. Our tripartite mandate is recognising excellence, providing advisory and think tank functions, and implementing key STI programmes addressing Africa’s developmental challenges.
Follow us on our social media platforms for more information:
Twitter: @AASciences
Facebook: African Academy of Sciences
LinkedIn: African Academy of Sciences
Website: https://aasciences.africa/
NIH Fogarty International Center
The Center addresses global health challenges through innovative and collaborative research and training programs and supports and advances the NIH mission through international partnerships.
For more information visit the Fogarty International Center website.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)
NIH, the United States’ medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.
For more information visit the NIH website.
MEDIA CONTACTS
The Africa Academy of Sciences (AAS)
Communications Team
communication@aasciences.africa
Fellow Bio:
Name: Amadou Niangaly
Country (Nationality): Mali
Research area: Malaria
Home institution: University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Mali
Host institution: National Institute of Health (NIH)
Summary:
Despite efforts in fighting against malaria, cases and deaths are still hight in many African countries. This could be due to the change in some malaria parasites to escape treatments or protection from vaccines. Currently, Dr Amadou Niangaly is investigating to understand how parasites adapts to selective pressure from vaccines, drugs and monoclonal antibodies.
APTI Fellowship:
Dr Niangaly will join Dr Peter Crompton’s lab at the National Institute of health during this fellowship. Under the mentorship of Dr Crompton, Dr Niangaly research focus on understanding the basis of ‘breakthrough’ infections during malaria prophylaxis, specifically in clinical trials of anti-malarial monoclonal antibodies. This will help developing tools that are broadly protective against circulating strains of P. falciparum.
Dr Niangaly received his PharmD degree from the University of Bamako in Mali followed by a Master degree in Parasitology-Mycology and Medical Entomology. He graduated his PhD degree in Parasitology-Mycology and Medical Entomology from the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako in Mali through a scholarship awarded by the Wellcome Trust funded MARCAD DELTAS programme.
Over the long-term, Dr Niangaly research are directed in molecular surveillance of infectious disease including rapidly evolving pathogens, whether in the context of outbreak investigations or understanding ‘failures’ of drugs, vaccine or monoclonal antibody in clinical trials or treatment. In addition, over the course of his academic career, Dr Niangaly aims to training young scientists and future leaders in biomedical research in Africa. He is currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Mali.
- Log in to post comments