Posted on: Tue 05-08-2025

In a major stride toward improving healthcare outcomes for sickle cell patients across sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), in collaboration with international research institutions, has secured a groundbreaking £5 million grant to advance research and capacity development for sickle cell disease (SCD).

The milestone was unveiled at a workshop hosted by UniAbuja's Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Research and Training (CESTRA), in partnership with the Patient-Centered Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) consortium led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). Themed “Strengthening Institutional Research Capacity and Safeguarding,” the workshop served as a strategic launchpad for a multi-institutional initiative aimed at building research capacity and addressing systemic challenges in the management of sickle cell disease.

Professor Obiageli Nnodu, Director of CESTRA and Co-Principal Investigator of the PACTS project, emphasized the significance of the funding in elevating the research capabilities of African institutions. According to her, the grant will not only support cutting-edge research but also foster the development of infrastructure and human resources essential for managing large-scale studies and translating findings into impactful policies.

“Research is a critical driver of national development,” Prof. Nnodu stated. “It is important for African institutions to be equipped not only to attract funding but to effectively manage, report, and apply research findings to societal and policy change.”

She explained that over the past four years, UniAbuja has witnessed a substantial increase in research grants, yet many faculty members still require capacity-building to fully engage in competitive, funded research.

The PACTS project is a collaborative endeavor involving institutions from Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, including Kwame Nkrumah University of Health and Allied Sciences (Ghana), University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka (Zambia), Imperial College London, and a U.S.-based university.

Speaking at the event, Acting Vice Chancellor of UniAbuja, Prof. Patricia Lar, represented by her Special Assistant on Academic Matters, Prof. Rhoda Mundi, noted the initiative’s alignment with the university’s broader mission to tackle critical public health challenges through research excellence.

“This workshop is a key moment in our collective fight against sickle cell disease, a condition that continues to burden not just Nigeria, but the entire sub-Saharan African region,” she remarked.

The international team is unified in their goal: to reframe the approach to SCD research by centering the experiences and needs of patients. Prof. Imelda Bates, Principal Investigator for PACTS, described this shift as transformative.

“This is a new way of conducting research—it is patient-centered,” she explained. “We speak directly with patients to understand their everyday challenges, and then we tailor our research to address those real-life issues.”

Prof. Bates emphasized that Nigeria is particularly well-suited for this research due to its large population of people living with sickle cell disease—the highest in the world. She stressed that addressing the issue is not just a health priority but a national imperative.

Preliminary findings from the project have already uncovered several pressing barriers facing affected families. Many struggle with the cost of healthy food, transportation to clinics, and prolonged wait times at healthcare facilities. Others turn to traditional or herbal remedies due to accessibility issues or cultural preferences, often delaying effective treatment.

“Families affected by sickle cell disease are often among the poorest,” Prof. Bates noted. “They face steep healthcare costs, and their children frequently miss school due to illness and the long process of clinic visits. These delays also affect parents’ ability to work.”

She highlighted the need for systemic reforms, such as better clinical workflows, affordable care, and integration of patient feedback into treatment models. The project, she added, seeks to not only identify these challenges but also pilot practical solutions to mitigate them.

As the project gains momentum, it is poised to usher in a new era of collaboration and innovation in sickle cell disease management across Africa. By strengthening research institutions and prioritizing the voices of patients, the UniAbuja-led initiative is setting a precedent for inclusive, solution-driven health research in the region.

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