A web-based survey of needs of information resources, research tools, connectivity and infrastructure among African Pharmacology Scientists OO Ogunleye, JO Fadare, Jaran Eriksen*, O Oaiya, A Massele, I Truter, SJE Taylor, B Godman, LL Gustafsson * MD PhD, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Background Many African scientists trained in high-income countries Often technology transfer required for trained scientists to work at their African home institutions failed Those who returned and remain in Africa have limited resources to maintain and develop strong research programs and institutions

Background: collaboration between African scientists Published scientific articles African publications comprise only 2.4% of global output Few publications by African collaboration only

African Pharmacology Science Gateway (APSG) May 2013, AiBST & eI4Africa EU/F7 initiated collaboration with a pilot African Pharmacology Science Gateway (APSG) AiBST in Zimbabwe established consortium of 7 African countries to participate in the development of the APSG concept Institute Contacts Country Expertise 1 African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST) Collen Masimirembwa Milcah Dhoro Roslyn Thelingwani Zimbabwe Genetics DMPK Bionalysis 2 Muhimbili University Omary Minzi Eliford Ngaimisi Tanzania Bioanalysis 3 Makerere University Jackson Mukonzo Norah Mwebaza Sarah Nanzigu Muhammad Ntale Uganda 4 Addis Ababa University , Eleni Aklillu Abiy Eyakem Ethiopia 5 University of Nairobi Anastasia Guantai Margaret Oluka Kenya Pharmacy 6 University of Ibadan Chinedum Peace Babalola Nigeria 7 University of Cape Town, Collet Dandara Simbarashe Zvada South Africa 8 Obafemi Awolow University Oluseye Bolaji PSG

Tools currently on APSG https://sgw.africa-grid.org/pharmacology-science-gateway

Study rationale & aim APSG still in pilot form Few scientist use/are aware of the gateway and its potential We aimed to identify the areas of research interests among African biomedical scientists, the currently available research capacity, skills and resources as well as identify their specific priority areas of need that might be fulfilled by access to information and tools through e- infrastructures/science gateways

Methodology Cross sectional web based questionnaire survey, conducted over six months (December 2015 to May 2016) Developed by experienced researchers in pharmacological and biomedical sciences Web-based LimeSurvey® tool, assisted by the West and Central Africa Research and Education Network (WACREN) 4 sections: Section A: sociodemographics Section B: current research areas and interest Section C: available research skills and resources including transferable ones Section D: expressed needs and knowledge gaps of the respondents

Target group Potential respondents identified through members of continental and regional pharmacological societies known to the authors: The Medicines Utilization Research in Africa (MURIA) Group and affiliate societies of the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR): Pharmacology for Africa Initiative (PharfA), West Africa Society for Pharmacology (WASP) and The South African Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (SASBCP) Participants invited through emails 472 individuals spread across West, South, East and North Africa sub-regions invited to participate Pre-programmed reminders sent to these individuals three times with six weeks interval

Results: country of residence of respondents A total of 118 responses were received response rate of 25%. Of the 118 responses, 50 were complete Country Number of individuals Percentage (%) Nigeria 43 48.3 South Africa 19 21.3 Botswana 8 9.0 Ethiopia 5 5.6 Egypt 4 4.5 Kenya 2 2.2 Canada Others* 6 6.6 Total 89 100 *Others include: Angola, Finland, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Zambia with one respondent each.

Results: respondents’ academic qualifications Number of Respondents Percentage (%) MSc 21 23.3 BSc/PhD 18 20.0 B Pharm/PhD 13 14.4 BSc/B Pharm 11 12.2 MD/PhD 9 10.0 MD/Post Graduate Fellowship PhD Students Total 90 100.0

Results: respondents’ research interests A total number of 183 responses were reported by 118 respondents Category Number of Responses (n=183) Proportion (%) Drug Research 59 31.2 Infectious and Tropical Diseases 23 11.8 Non Communicable Diseases/Systemic Pharmacology 40 20.3 Genomics and related fields 7 3.5 Toxicology 12 6.2 Medicinal Plants/Natural Products 18 9.1 Special Population/Special Interest Areas 9 4.6 Others 15 7.5

Results: transferable skills & needs Clinical Research Skills Laboratory Analytical Skills and Techniques Human resources, e.g. postgraduate students who assists in research projects Needs: Training, including training in specific research areas (drug utilization research techniques, pharmacokinetics modelling and pharmacometrics training) Access to specific tools and resources on-line (DU 90% calculation tools, pharmacokinetics and pharmacometrics software, drug-drug interactions software, international medicines pricing ) Laboratory equipment and infrastructure Funding and networking opportunities

Needs in medical research and practice match potentials of Science Gateways concept Needs : Need of colleagues, advice, evidence, data and cost-effective tools and applications Potential of Science Gateways: Shared virtual space for collaboration in a common theme Intuitive interface for distance based collaboration  easy access to data, tools and applications Collection of computer resources at multiple locations  provide services to support, upload, search, manage, download and store data

Conclusions Survey useful in identifying key priority areas of needs of African Researchers within the field of pharmacology Will guide further provision of resources on the e-infrastructure project through the African Pharmacological Science Gateway Could also assist in mapping available resources (human and material)  facilitate collaborations and optimize the use of scarce research resources within Africa Similar approach could also be applied to identifying areas of needs of other groups of researchers in different fields within the African continent

Thank you! jaran.eriksen@ki.se sci-gaia.eu

Needs II: epidemiological data across Africa 2012 Demographic surveillance sites in 43 countries with 2.1 million people follow population from birth to death Publications in epidemiology/country

Needs III: Essential medicines in Africa 2017 Population Strategy: 1. Pay for a basket of essential medicines, 2. Make essential medicines affordable, 3. Assure quality and safety of medicines, 4. Promote quality use of medicines and 5. Develop missing essential medicines. Points 2,3,4,5 require open access data. The Commission estimates that US$77-152 billion per year is needed to provide a basic package of 201 essential medicines to all low- and middle-income countries Spending on medicines

Challenges and needs among researchers and practitioners in medicine in Africa Challenge: Bioscientists and medical practitioners in most fields are few in numbers Needs: Colleagues, expertise, knowledge, information, guidelines and tools Challenge: Affordable treatment options and techniques and trusted information scarce in African institutions and practices Needs: Transparent markets, research tools and resources, information and “communities of practices” Challenge: Lack of funding Needs: Shared use of applications, computers and competitive markets driven by transparent price information for medicines and equipment