By Elvis Tah
The University of Buea, UB, has won a multi-million grant to investigate the various strains, spread and tools for mapping out the drug resistance patterns of tuberculosis in Cameroon.
The grant was awarded by the New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD, an African development initiative aimed at accelerating development and eradicating poverty.The research project dubbed, Biosciences Eastern and Central African Network (BecA net Node) and Tuberculosis Genotyping Project, was launched at the UB biotechnology unit, under the auspices of UB Vice Chancellor, PK Titanji, Monday, September 22.
According to the BecA scientists, the project seeks to create and strengthen human capital and product development in biosciences and related disciplines in Africa. "BecA will focus on tuberculosis that accounts for a significant morbidity and mortality in the Eastern, Central and Sub-Saharan Africa.
"Our thrust will be to employ genomic and proteomic approaches to determine the burden of TB, caused by the spread of M. Tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) strains and their resistance patterns."
The scientists anticipate that the study will include the delineation of MTBC strains circulating in Cameroon and the resistance patterns of isolates employed in the control of TB will be carried out in the laboratories of the Mezam Polyclinic in Bamenda, IRAD Ngaoundere and the International Research Centre, ILRI, Kenya.
The BecA scientists include Prof. Titanji (Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), who is the principal investigator.The co-investigators comprise of: Pr. Carole McArthur (Professor of Pathology); Dr. Irene Anyangwe (microbiologist); Dr. Fidelis Cho-Ngwa (biochemist/molecular biologist); DR. Roland Ndip (Associate Professor of Microbiology); Dr. Jane-Francis Akoachere (microbiologist); Dr. Penlap Veronique (Associate Professor of Biochemistry); Dr. Gerald Nkwelang (microbiologist); Dr. Stephen Ghogomu (biochemist/molecular biologist), Dr. Daniel Achukwi and Dr. Julius Ndukum (Vet Doctors) etc.
The VC, while launching the project, stated that the project is coming at the heels of consultative talks which began in 2004, between UB and a certain Prof. Ochonda of Nairobi University and one Col. Dr. Samuel Martin, a BecA official.
Prof. Titanji announced that another international grant has been won in the Faculty of Social and Management Science by a team led by Dr. Lotsmart Foinjong."This grant follows the grant won from WHO by Dr. Fidelis Cho-Ngwa and colleagues, which is already being executed at the Biotechnology Unit. We shall soon publish the research grant award for the 2008/2009 academic year in which some FCFA 52 million will be disbursed."
The VC stated that UB has aims to grow from mainly a teaching institution into a university that excels in research and services to the community.
What a shame, yet the university can not boast of a single page over the net. VC Titanji act fast and do something!!!
Posted by: SET | Thursday, 25 September 2008 at 07:59 PM