Research and Capacity Building in Antimicrobial Resistance in West Africa

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ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the greatest global threats to human health in recent times and limits achievement of several of the Sustainable Development goals, in particular SDG3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). Although the burden of AMR disproportionately affects western sub-Saharan Africa, research capacity in the sub-region is very low and not well positioned to tackle the current demands of the problem. There is an acute shortage of professionals in West Africa in crucial areas that are essential to impact research, policy and disease control. There is a dearth of expertise for an array of crucial specialization relevant to AMR such as genomics, bioinformatics and population genetics compared to other African regions. These research capacity deficiencies could be addressed by focusing on long-term institutional training of junior scientists locally. However, currently, there are hardly any academic training programs in West Africa countries that focus on AMR. The objective of the proposed training programme is to increase research into the detection, prevention and treatment of drug-resistant infections in West Africa, expand knowledge and skills in clinical microbiology, and help junior scientists find a viable career path in AMR research. The long-term goal is to establish a core of West African scientists who advance the understanding and management of AMR and to support them to be competitive in obtaining research grants from international funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, USA and The Wellcome Trust, UK.