Supporting Communities of Practice through the Sci-GaIA platform Jaran Eriksen, MD PhD Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Background Sci-GaIA Workpackage 2 – health Aims: Provide support to emerging communities of practice (COPs) Specify structures, models, resources and competences needed to be able to host and use Science Gateways within the COP in a sustainable way to make a change defined as production of papers, people trained and time gains in research and healthcare Focus on two COPs from eI4Africa: African Pharmacology Science Gateway Community Health Portal

African Pharmacology Science Gateway (APSG) Background and aim: 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 To Design, Develop, Test, Implement and Evaluate a concept for cost-effective virtual e-infrastructure for African medical science collaboration (e-science) focusing on biomedical and pharmacological sciences and clinical trials for improving African healthcare

African Pharmacology Science Gateway (APSG) May 2013, AiBST & eI4Africa EU/F7 initiated collaboration to establish a pilot African Pharmacology Science Gateway (PSG) AiBST 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

What is the APSG? A virtual collaborative community linked to the African Grid Science Gateway Builds on easily accessible tools, preferably open access for affordability and sustainability Simplifies collaboration and sharing of resources in Africa Should promote and implement African medical science collaboration focusing on: biomedical and pharmacological sciences clinical trials and clinical drug studies for improving African healthcare

Pharmacology Science Gateway Outline

Pilot focus areas of APSG https://sgw.africa-grid.org/pharmacology-science-gateway

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

What can Sci-GaIA offer APSG Data repository for data from e.g. clinical trials databases Discussion forum for users Adapt APSG to needs of potential users

Sci-GaIA support for APSG MURIA group – Medicines Utilization Research In Africa: drug utilization and rational use of drugs linked up with APSG Sci-GaIA forum discussion  MURIA-initiated survey of African scientists in pharmacology (needs, skills, research areas) Presentation tomorrow!

Conclusions Sci-GaIA: engage with new and emerging COPs support new and emerging COPs on science gateways support further development of science gateways to COPs’ needs Sci-GaIA is here for the COPs, contact and interact with us!

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

APSG objectives To make accessible tools for research and training to ensure vibrancy in the N-S and S-S pharmacology research To provide an e-platform which will remove/reduce physical barriers in research collaboration across Africa To promote South-South collaboration, thus harvest on knowledge & technology acquired over years of North-South collaboration To build critical mass of pharmacology research leaders To build research capacity through training and mentoring of post-docs and middle career scientists to become independent research leaders

Background and aim Community Health Portal (CHP) In rural Africa healthcare data are usually paper based  challenging to keep information accessible, updated and secure Limited access to updated scientific literature and guidelines Health workers work alone – no access to specialists Drug stock outs large problem at health facilities ICT could provide solutions for these challenges for both healthcare staff and patients CHP objectives: Support health workers and patients in rural Africa Gather different applications under one hood

Pilot applications integrated into the CHP Drug Management Application On-the-Job training On-line real-time Pulse Oximeter

Potentials APSG Prototype already created based on COP wishes COPs to start using gateway for their research Refine/revisit needs for tools New tools Continuous development