1. 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

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. Tools currently on APSG

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 s
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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Thank you!
sci-gaia.eu

16. 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

17. 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$ billion per year is needed to provide a basic package of 201 essential medicines to all low- and middle-income countries
Spending on
medicines

18. 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