Cardiovascular Research Training In Nigeria (CeRTIN) - PROJECT ABSTRACT
Nigeria faces an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular
diseases (CVDs), leading to an estimated 29% of all deaths in the country. In spite of this, contemporary data
demonstrate low implementation of recommended public health and clinical cardiovascular interventions,
including the WHO's Best Buys for NCDs in the country. The 2019 Nigerian Multisectoral Action Plan for the
Prevention and Control of NCDs demonstrates the country's commitment and prioritization to NCD prevention
and control across the lifespan and within primary care settings. However, there are a limited number of
Nigerian investigators, early stage investigators, and trainees with the necessary skills, training, and
experiences to implement and build upon this plan to improve cardiovascular health and patient-centered care.
In this grant, we propose to strengthen implementation science, clinical trial, and patient-centered
outcomes research capacity within the University of Abuja, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, and their
partners. Our long-term goal is to build a cadre of multidisciplinary researchers who will develop a high-quality,
contextualized evidence base to improve implementation and sustainment of recommended public health and
clinical strategies for better population and individual-level cardiovascular health and outcomes. The University
of Abuja has a successful track record of NIH-funded cardiovascular health research programs with a growing
faculty of accomplished investigators. Our novel, multidisciplinary training program in cardiovascular
implementation science, clinical trials, and patient-centered outcomes research will support short-, medium-,
and long-term trainings combined with capacity building in mentorship and curriculum design for sustainability.
Aim 1. Build capacity and experience in University of Abuja cardiovascular researchers to design and conduct
cardiovascular implementation science, clinical trials, and patient-centered outcomes research in Nigeria.
Aim 2. Develop a team of faculty leaders and mentors at University of Abuja who are able to provide
mentorship and training for new cardiovascular investigators and sustain the cardiovascular research agenda.
Aim 3. Advance in-country cardiovascular research agenda by formally integrating courses in implementation
science, clinical trials, and patient-centered outcomes research training into existing degree programs.
This grant will support 5 post-doctoral fellows, 2 Master's degrees, and 2 PhD students through medium-
and long-term training. Short-term cardiovascular research skill building, mentorship, and teaching and
curriculum design workshops will train >250 participants in research methods, mentorship, and teaching.
Annual symposia will provide opportunities for the broader community of cardiovascular and NCD researchers
to disseminate their research and form new collaborations. Through this program, we will train a new
generation of independent Nigerian investigators, mentoring them on the path to independence, and leading
the way for University of Abuja to become a center for excellence for cardiovascular research in Nigeria.
