Project Summary (abstract)
In Africa and Nigeria over 75% of annual SCD births occur but translation of evidenced-based
interventions (EBI) to public health and practice to promote health equity for SCD, its related
neurological, renal and cardiovascular morbidities other hemoglobinopathies (e.g.,β
thalassemia) has been lacking. The University of Abuja (UoA), University of Ibadan (UI), Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and New York University (NYU) will
develop a highly innovative interdisciplinary and inter-professional training program that builds
on our strong history of highly visible and context specific NCD research to address the
translational research gap via SPARC-TRAIN. Our training program will identify, select, and
recruit 4-6 diverse talented scholars per year (20-35 total) in Nigeria, Ghana, and other West
African countries who aspire to become leaders in hemoglobinopathies and implementation
science research utilizing a Team Science approach. Our scholars will engage in didactic course
work (short, medium, long-term) for research training at UoA, KNUST and UI. To enable the next
generation of clinicians and scientists, the trainees in our program will be provided with
dedicated time, optimal mentorship, formal education, and experience in developing
interdisciplinary and interprofessional hypothesis-driven clinical research. We will also evaluate
both short- and long-term outcomes of the hemoglobinopathies and implementation science
research training program. This D43 program leverages the superb research-intensive
academic culture at UoA, UI, KNUST, and NYU including affiliated faculty at the University of
Chicago. Furthermore, SPARC-TRAIN will provide outstanding advanced training along five
main tracks. SPARC-TRAIN fills an important gap and training need within the scientific
workforce at West African institutions. Scholars’ training within this program will have a
significant impact on public health by improving outcomes for patients with hemoglobinopathies.