Improving data science training for infectious diseases in West Africa
Official title: Application of Data Science to Build Research Capacity in Zoonoses and Food-Borne Infections in West Africa
Funded at College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana · NIH-11115667 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping students and new teachers in West Africa learn important skills to better understand and tackle diseases that come from animals and food, so they can make their communities healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Accra, Ghana) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $197,736 |
| NIH project number | 5UE5TW012566-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115667 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include MSc students and early-career faculty members from West African universities and research institutions interested in infectious disease research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in academic or research training programs may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the capacity for studying zoonoses and food-borne infections in West Africa by providing specialized training in health data science. The program will offer one-year research training for MSc students and early-career faculty, equipping them with skills in bioinformatics, phylodynamics, and disease modeling. Participants will engage in hands-on research projects that address critical health issues affecting their communities. By building local expertise, the initiative aims to improve the understanding and management of infectious diseases in the region.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes in West Africa by developing local expertise to better address zoonoses and food-borne infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous initiatives in health data science training have shown promise in improving local research capacity, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana
Accra, Ghana Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sampane-Donkor, Eric — College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana
- Study coordinator: Sampane-Donkor, Eric
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding a New Malaria Mosquito in Ghana
This project aims to learn more about a new type of malaria-carrying mosquito that has recently arrived in Ghana, to help protect people from malaria.
-
Improving care for pregnant women with sickle cell disease in Ghana
This study is all about improving care for pregnant women with sickle cell disease in Ghana, making sure they get the best support from a team of doctors to help keep them and their babies healthy during pregnancy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.