The three-week course aims to equip African researchers and health professionals with essential skills and knowledge in both disciplines which are crucial to their work. More specifically, participants learn how to design their own studies using advanced methodology, critically appraise scientific results and be better positioned to train and supervise junior researchers in their home countries. 

“We aim to make short courses more accessible to African health professionals and position MRCG at LSHTM as a regional training hub,” said Professor Umberto D'Alessandro, Unit Director at MRCG at LSHTM.  

This course has been run at the LSHTM since the 1980s and was successfully held in MRC Unit The Gambia for the first time in 2019. This year, we trained 26 participants (including 10 women) from 14 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and from a variety of backgrounds and levels (PhD students, research assistants, clinical consultants, data scientists, senior lecturers and mentors).  

Professor Assan Jaye, Head of Training at MRCG at LSHTM, remarked, "the course is important in equipping health professionals with the necessary skills to design studies using appropriate methodology, to critically evaluate scientific papers, and contribute to evidence-based medicine and research."

The success of these short courses are demonstrated by the increased capacity of these health professionals to tackle emerging infections, disease preparedness and responses, strengthening healthcare and research across Africa. 

Dr. Adwoa Kumiwa Asare Afrane, a Ghanaian Pediatrician who was able to attend through a scholarship from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), stated, "Given my current role leading research projects at the Department of Child Health at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, this course would enhance my epidemiological and statistical analysis capabilities for ongoing and future studies."

Muhammed Lamin Darboe, a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist from the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Program (NLTP), Gambia, whose scholarship was supported by the West Africa Health Orgainsation highlighted that, “this course has deepened my understanding of public health by strengthening my ability to analyse and interpret health data for informed decision-making. The topic “Translation of Research to Policy” has been most valuable, as I am better equipped to critique evidence from the research community and advise on the best course of action.”

Dr Azuka Patrick Okwuraiwe, a Nigerian Biomedical Scientist and scholarship beneficiary from AREF, said, “I am developing skills in collecting, analysing, and interpreting health data, enabling me to quantify disease burden and evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions.”

Daniel Joshua Msesa, a Tanzanian Research Scientist who was supported by GSK scholarship, stated, “Engaging in hands-on practical sessions and interactive discussions have deepen my understanding of critical health issues while empowering me to contribute meaningfully to research and policy in my home country. This experience is more than just a learning journey, it is a step towards shaping the future of public health in Africa,” he concluded.

Through the collaboration with LSHTM, MRCG continues to bring these short courses closer to African scientists, empowering them with essential skills, knowledge and technology to drive innovative research that will contribute to the transformation of global health outcomes.