TRAINING CAPACITY
The MRTC is supporting a
major training program to prepare for its own future, for the future of Mali
and Africa and the world. The MRTC hosts graduate and postgraduate students
from many African and non-African countries. In 2001 a workshop on molecular
entomology hosted students from the Cameroon, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea,
Tanzania and Kenya as well as Mali.
The MRTC regularly host national,
African and international meetings and workshops and is recognized by the
WHO as the primary West African training center.
In June 2001, sixteen Malian scientists will be attending graduate programs at The Johns Hopkins Summer Institute of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. All will return as members of the malaria vaccine testing initiative. They follow a long tradition of training at JHU in Epidemiology and related topics. Over 20 Malian students have taken courses at Johns Hopkins since 1995.
The MRTC has organized and hosted many international
training courses sponsored by the NIH, the MacArthur Foundation degree
candidates each year, and provide post-graduate training in malaria research to
Malian science graduates., the World Health Organization and the International
Atomic Energy Agency, on topics including epidemiology, entomology,
malariology, bioethics and molecular assays for drug resistant malaria. GCP
courses have been held at the MRTC annually since 2001. Pr. Doumbo serves as
the local principal investigator/program director for both of Dr. Plowe’s
training grants described above that provide graduate degrees to Malian
scientists in malaria research, and training in clinical tropical medicine and
malaria research to U.S. students and trainees. In addition, MRTC senior
investigators serve as thesis advisors for numerous M.D. and Pharm.D. degree
candidates each year, and provide post-graduate training in malaria research to
Malian science graduates.
Informatics
training background
In October 1999, an informatics
grant entitled ”International Training in Medical Informatics ” (ITMI) (TW99-003)
submitted by Tulane University SPHTM and the University of Mali (now the University
of Bamako). FMPOS/DEAP was approved to develop a training program for young
Malian researchers. Five trainees were selected by a committee of senior Malian
investigators, headed by Dr Ogobara K DOUMBO from CVs submitted from interested
candidates. The candidates were interview by a US collaborator (Dr Frances
J. Mather, PI) and their applications to Tulane in the Department of Biostatistics
were accepted. In fall of 2000, a cohort of 3 trainees (2 Physicians and one
mathematician began there training over 2 years. Fall of 2001, a cohort of
2 trainees – 1 physician and 1 computer specialist (Ousmane TOURE) began their
training over 2 years.
All trainees have since graduated with MSPH in Biostatistics and
returned to Mali and the University of Bamako (MRTC). While non physicians
added courses specializing in developing computer networks and installing
security software to manage computer laboratories as well as geographic
information systems (GIS).
Further, a ”Salle informatique” consisting of 10 Pc’s, a server,
printer, a LCD projector and sofware networked to provide a small computer
laboratory were established at the Malaria Research and Training Center under
the direction of the ITMI trained computer specialist. It has access to the NIH
supported VSAT system.
The MRTC serves as the
focus for several major initiatives, which enhance its capacity to conduct
meaningful research and training.
The Malaria Research and Training Center fills a number of important roles. First and foremost, it has provided an opportunity for Malian scientist to grow and develop one of the most important research centers in Africa. The MRTC has gone a long way toward proving that given adequate training and sufficient support, African researchers can lead the fight against the diseases that most afflict their people.
Secondly, the MRTC provides
the sites needed for African scientists to demonstrate the feasibility of
applying new strategies, particularly vaccines, to fight age-old diseases.
Through the minority training program the - MRTC also provides opportunities
for young US students to experience first hand the excitement that comes from
working on diseases in the tropics and perhaps to alter career paths toward
careers in tropical medicine. Finally, the MRTC provides an opportunity for
NIH scientists to directly relate their laboratory-based bench researches
to real problems in the real world.
