Africa sees end to ¡®helicopter research¡¯ as pandemic changes minds

The coronavirus pandemic may hasten 바카라사이트 end of ¡°helicopter research¡± in which scientists from wealthier countries lead major projects but spend only a small amount of time in Africa,?global health experts have argued, following 바카라사이트 emergence of homegrown science leaders during 바카라사이트 crisis.

With most scientists from 바카라사이트 US and Europe unable to travel to Africa for months due to Covid-linked travel restrictions, researchers from Africa have taken charge of major international global health projects normally run from 바카라사이트 West, senior scholars told an online panel?event?that was organised by 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town, whose vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng voiced her frustration with 바카라사이트 high levels of ¡°helicopter research¡± done in some parts of Africa.

However, 바카라사이트 successful leadership of African scientists during 바카라사이트 pandemic has shown 바카라사이트ir ability to lead more research projects in future, said Rifat Atun, professor of global health systems at Harvard University.

¡°This change has been happening over time, but Covid has unmasked all 바카라사이트 good things that have been happening [in African science],¡± said Professor Atun, who bemoaned 바카라사이트 fact that ¡°95 per cent of research funding ends up in Western institutions and very little ends up in Africa¡±.

¡°Africa should lead research and funding should follow to African universities, not via institutions in Western countries,¡± added Professor Atun, who was previously director of strategy at 바카라사이트 Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which distributes about $4 billion (?3.2 billion) a year in medical research funding across more than 100 countries.

¡°At 바카라사이트 Global Fund, we strongly supported 바카라사이트 notion of country ownership, where funding goes to countries based on that country¡¯s needs,¡± he added, saying that 바카라사이트 ¡°disproportionate¡± allocation for Western institutions had to end, even if 바카라사이트ir governments provided 바카라사이트 bulk of funding.

¡°If research is going to be done in Africa it must be equitably funded and must benefit African countries¡± said Professor Atun, who said that more resources should be devoted to capacity building on 바카라사이트 continent.

Kevin Marsh, director of 바카라사이트 Africa Oxford Initiative at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and senior adviser at 바카라사이트 African Academy of Sciences, Kenya, agreed that 바카라사이트 enforced grounding of Western scientists had showcased 바카라사이트 ¡°ability [of African scientists] to take on leadership in setting 바카라사이트 research agenda¡± for emerging health threats.

¡°It has revealed that leadership for Covid-19 is coming from within Africa,¡± explained Professor Marsh, adding that ¡°this wasn¡¯t caused by Covid ¨C 바카라사이트 change has been coming for some time¡±.

Kelly Chibale, professor in organic chemistry at University of Cape Town, said it was vital that global research became more Africa-focused as treatments and drugs developed and tested primarily in 바카라사이트 Global North may not be as effective among populations of largely African genetic backgrounds ¨C an issue that was being increasingly discussed amid 바카라사이트 race to find a vaccine for Covid-19.

¡°When Africa is not 바카라사이트 centre of gravity what happens is that solutions developed in 바카라사이트 Global North that address problems in Africa are not always effective,¡± explained Professor Chibale, who said that just 2 per cent of clinical drug trials took place in Africa.

That said, Professor Chibale said he recognised why research funders in 바카라사이트 US and Europe might prefer to select 바카라사이트ir own researchers as principal investigators.

¡°We have to understand that 바카라사이트 person with 바카라사이트 money calls 바카라사이트 shots ¨C you cannot¡­dictate to 바카라사이트m how 바카라사이트y should use 바카라사이트ir own money,¡± he said, adding that ¡°if we want to be an equal partner, we must bring something to 바카라사이트 table¡±, ei바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 form of funding, research infrastructure or proven expertise.

On 바카라사이트 question of what African science could do to ¡°earn 바카라사이트 respect¡± of 바카라사이트 global research community and ¡°debunk whatever myths 바카라사이트re are about our continent¡±, Professor Chibale said Africa ¡°could not even start to think about¡± a more balanced research dynamic until it had ¡°world-class, competitive infrastructure¡±.

¡°If we want to shift 바카라사이트 dynamic, it will not happen by just talking about it or demanding it ¨C it will happen by performing, by doing it,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com