Expanding cancer research capacity in Nigeria with team science

总结 在尼日利亚，癌症是一个重大且日益严重的公共卫生威胁。鉴于发病率的上升和贫困 与该地区癌症相关的结果，尼日利亚卫生部已指定癌症 作为研究和培训的优先领域。为了支持这一点，我们提出了一个新的培训计划- 尼日利亚癌症研究培训（NCAT）计划-以提高癌症的能力为目标 在尼日利亚进行研究。我们不仅要加强现有的研究企业，而且要建立在- 国家的专业知识，并为发展，实施和 传播将影响公共卫生政策的循证干预措施， 为癌症患者提供实践、护理和治疗。NCAT计划将建立在现有的关系 以及过去十年中纪念斯隆凯特琳癌症中心 (MSK)在美国，尼日利亚的Obafemi Awolowo大学（OAU）和医学院/拉各斯 尼日利亚的大学教学医院（CMUL/LUTH）。我们将采用多层次的方法， 加强个人（目标1）和机构（目标2）的研究能力，同时还加强 在国家、区域和全球各级建立更广泛的关系（目标3）。NCAT计划将解决 尼日利亚对癌症研究培训的两种不同需求：1.一个培训计划，可以用于 临床教师（主要是医生和护士）不会干扰临床/研究职责，以及 2.一个培训计划，以加强全职博士水平的研究人员在学科的能力， 癌症流行病学、行为科学和生物统计学。学员将通过竞争选拔， 我们将强调多样性和代表性不足的专业（例如，护理、心理肿瘤学）。一 多管齐下的培训方法，利用课程作业，“动手”研究正在进行的乳房和 结直肠癌研究，虚拟学习，指导和合作将用于培训一个干部， 尼日利亚多学科癌症研究人员。经过一年的癌症研究培训期，NCAT 受训人员将被分成研究小组，参加以科学为基础的小组培训， 包括在尼日利亚设计和开展一个合作指导试点研究项目。此外，本发明还提供了一种方法， 为加强对本地研究人员的支援，我们会在计划推行后， 在尼日利亚使用的培训课程，并为研究行政部门提供指导和培训 在非统组织和CMUL/LUTH的办事处。我们将使用多层次的学员和项目评估， 确保我们的计划达到其最终目标，即培养训练有素的结直肠癌和乳腺癌患者。 为尼日利亚的癌症研究提供了一个可持续的渠道。

SUMMARY In Nigeria, cancer is a significant and growing public health threat. Given the rising incidence and poor outcomes associated with cancer in the region, the Nigerian Ministry of Health has designated cancer as a priority area for research and training. To support this, we propose a new training program – the Nigerian Cancer Research Training (NCAT) program – with the goal of increasing capacity for cancer research in Nigeria. We seek to not only strengthen the existing research enterprise but to build in- country expertise and provide a solid foundation for the development, implementation, and dissemination of evidence-based interventions that will impact public health policy, as well as clinical practice, care, and treatment for cancer patients. The NCAT program will build on existing relationships and infrastructure established over the past decade between Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in the US, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria, and the College of Medicine/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (CMUL/LUTH) in Nigeria. We will employ a multi-level approach to strengthen research capacity for individuals (Aim 1) and institutions (Aim 2), while also enhancing broader relationships at national, regional, and global levels (Aim 3). The NCAT program will address two distinct needs for cancer research training in Nigeria: 1. a training program that can be used for clinical faculty (primarily physicians and nurses) that will not interfere with clinical/research duties, and 2. a training program to bolster the capacity of full-time PhD-level researchers in the disciplines of cancer epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and biostatistics. Trainees will be competitively selected, and we will emphasize diversity and underrepresented specialties (e.g., nursing, psycho-oncology). A multi-pronged training approach, utilizing coursework, “hands-on” research in ongoing breast and colorectal cancer studies, virtual learning, mentorship, and collaboration will be used to train a cadre of multidisciplinary Nigerian cancer researchers. After a one-year cancer research training period, NCAT trainees will be grouped into research teams and take part in team science-based training, which will include designing and conducting a collaborative mentored pilot research project in Nigeria. In addition, to enhance support for local researchers beyond the project period, we will develop cancer research training courses to be used in Nigeria, and provide mentorship and training to research administration offices at OAU and CMUL/LUTH. We will use multiple layers of trainee and project assessment to ensure that our program is meeting its ultimate goal of creating well-trained colorectal and breast cancer researchers and a sustainable pipeline for continued cancer research in Nigeria.