Application of Data Science to Build Research Capacity in Zoonoses and Food-Borne Infections in West Africa

摘要 健康数据科学在非洲的重要性怎么强调都不过分，因为 传染性和非传染性疾病正在整个非洲大陆肆虐。尽管如此，健康数据 非洲的科学非常不发达，这主要是由于缺乏训练有素的数据 科学家在过去的几年里，一直在努力解决数据科学培训问题 非洲的需要。然而，这些仍然是有限的范围和一些关键的传染性 疾病，如人畜共患病和食源性感染，这些疾病对人类造成了重大损失。 大陆，没有得到足够的重视。拟议培训方案的目的是 加强对西非人畜共患病和食源性感染的研究， 数据科学的应用。我们建议三个培训途径如下： 为西非的理学硕士学生提供为期一年的研究培训。在本次培训中，我们将支持 培养完成相关硕士第一年课程的优秀候选人 programme.候选人将承担一个研究项目的主题，适用于 生物信息学、生物动力学和/或疾病建模，用于人畜共患病或食源性感染， 他们的论文。(ii)为来自西非的教员提供为期一年的研究培训。 在这个培训轨道上，我们将支持来自大学和研究的早期职业科学家/教师 有兴趣发展人畜共患病或食源性疾病研究事业的机构 感染.他们将在研究中应用生物信息学，生物动力学和疾病建模工具 关于人畜共患病和食源性感染。(iii)举办讲习班，提供实践培训 在生物信息学、生物动力学和疾病建模方面向西非更广泛的社区提供服务。的 长期目标是建立一个西非科学家的核心谁可以进行严格的健康 使用数据科学的研究项目。

ABSTRACT The importance of Health Data Science in Africa cannot be overemphasized, as the burden of infectious and non-infectious diseases is striking across the continent. Despite this, health data science in Africa is grossly underdeveloped, which is mainly due to lack of well-trained data scientists. In the last few years, there have been efforts to address the Data Science training needs in Africa. However, these remain limited in scope and some of the crucial infectious diseases such as zoonoses and food-borne infections, which take a significant toll on the continent, have not been sufficiently addressed. The aim of the proposed training programme is to enhance research into zoonoses and food-borne infections in West Africa through the application of data science. We are proposing three training tracks as follows: (I) To provide a one-year research training to MSc students in West Africa. In this training track, we will support training of excellent candidates who have completed the first-year course work of a relevant MSc programme. The candidates will undertake a research project on a topic that applies bioinformatics, phylodynamics, and/or disease modelling to zoonoses or foodborne infections for their dissertation. (ii) To provide a one-year research training to faculty members from West Africa. In this training track, we will support early career scientists/faculty from universities and research institutions who are interested in developing a research career in zoonoses or foodborne infections. They will apply bioinformatics, phylodynamics and disease modelling tools in research on zoonoses and food-borne infections. (iii) To organize workshops to provide hands-on training in bioinformatics, phylodynamics and disease modelling to wider communities in West Africa. The long-term goal is to establish a core of West African scientists who can carry out rigorous health research projects using data science.