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TReND in Africa: advancing science and research in Sub-Saharan Universities Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa Jorge Iván Castillo-Quan.

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Presentation on theme: "TReND in Africa: advancing science and research in Sub-Saharan Universities Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa Jorge Iván Castillo-Quan."— Presentation transcript:

1 TReND in Africa: advancing science and research in Sub-Saharan Universities Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa Jorge Iván Castillo-Quan Grant Advisor & London Contact

2 Overview Why Africa? Mammalian VS Insects as model organisms. What is TReND What do we do? Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

3 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

4 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

5 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org "Because there is no research culture at many African universities, people do not see science as an attractive option."

6 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org "What is lacking at the international level is an understanding of the importance of research and development, particularly within Africa, in the fight against disease." Pascoal Mocumbi Primer Minister of Mozambique 1994-2004.

7 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org "Africans need to build scientific capacity so that we can develop our own models, validated over Africa." Anthony Nyong Head Gender, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Unit African Development Bank

8 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

9 Enrolment rates in higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa are by far the lowest in the world Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Source: Bloom D., et al. Higher education and Economic Development in Africa. World Bank, 2006.

10 Knowledge Economic Index: country's ability to generate, adopt and diffuse knowledge Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Source: Bloom D., et al. Higher education and Economic Development in Africa. World Bank, 2006.

11 Many problems Lack of funding agencies. Poor governmental support. Corruption. Energy supply. Insufficient equipment. Lack of appropriate training. Use of expensive model organisms. Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

12 Only use rats as model organisms Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Lucia Prieto-Godino Sadiq Yusuf

13 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

14 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org What is the relationship between flies and us? We share 60% of our DNA. 70% of known human disease genes have Drosophila counterparts. The list continues…!

15 Why flies? Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

16 Drosophila melanogaster has probably taught us more about genetics than any other animal on earth Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

17 Fly brainbow Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

18 Flies have a heart…! Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Wessells RJ, et al. Nat Genet 2004.

19 Flies show complex behaviours Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

20 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

21 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org We use African flies in our lab…! We use flies collected in 1970’s from Dahomey (outbred population), now the Republic of Benin. We keep our flies in large population cages with overlapping generations. You will use these flies for the practicals!!! French Dahomey

22 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

23 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

24 The first course - 2011 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Designed a 3-week course (CSHL – MBL style) 50 applications (graduate students around Africa). HUGE Success!

25 The second course – 1 st IBRO course on Insect Neuroscience and Drosophila Neurogenetics Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

26 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Furnishing labs Everything used for the course stays at the host university (KIU, Uganda). Our equipment comes from our own labs or from the generosity of other laboratories. The industry is responding with important donations.

27 What do we teach? Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

28 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org What do we teach?

29 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org What do we teach?

30 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

31 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org What do we teach?

32 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org What do we teach?

33 Applications from all Africa! Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Nigeria Uganda Kenya Cameroon Ethiopia Tanzania Malawi Congo Ghana Egypt Sudan 1 st year: 50 applications 2 nd year: 60 applications 3 rd year 60 applications

34 TReND in Africa NOW! Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

35 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

36 Erwin Neher Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1991 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org “The goal of Neuroscience research is nothing less than trying to understand ourselves – how we perceive, think, and feel. It is obvious that this endeavor should not be restricted to a fraction of the world. Developing countries have the human resources to contribute and need at least as urgently as other countries the benefits in medical care, which hope to emanate from brain research. Therefore, the efforts of TReND deserve the fullest support”

37 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org What are we up next? Probably this year (2013) our last in Uganda. We are planning to move to Mekelle University (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). Setting up an MSc in Neuroscience in Uganda (KIU). HUMAN TReND – Neurologists from USA to visit and interact with students in Egypt and Uganda. Several of our students have been awarded travelling grants to take courses in the UK and Asia (funded by Wellcome Trust and IBRO)

38 How can you help? Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org Help us to create awareness. Do you have an expertise that can be helpful in Africa – talk to us. Do you know of laboratory equipment that is just sitting in a corner or you have a laptop that would like to donate? Make a monetary donation (visit our website).

39 Thanks to our sponsors! Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

40 Thanks for your attention… Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

41 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

42 Teaching and Research for Development (TReND) in Africa www.trendinafrica.org

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