Turning Discoveries into Treatments: Immunology in Africa

Faith H A Osier; Henry C Mwandumba; Clive M Gray

doi:10.1016/j.it.2020.10.007

Turning Discoveries into Treatments: Immunology in Africa

Trends Immunol. 2020 Dec;41(12):1051-1053. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2020.10.007. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Authors

Faith H A Osier¹, Henry C Mwandumba², Clive M Gray³

Affiliations

¹ Centre of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, Kilifi, Kenya. Electronic address: FOsier@kemri-wellcome.org.
² Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.
³ Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract

An exemplar outcome of an immunology-based intervention is vaccine development; the current COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point. Can we build an immunology research ecosystem in Africa that nurtures discovery and enables translation? We see African immunologists as key agents of change and discuss obstacles and opportunities.

Keywords: African scientists; funding; immunology; training; vaccines.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Africa
Allergy and Immunology* / education
Allergy and Immunology* / organization & administration
Allergy and Immunology* / trends
COVID-19 Vaccines
Developing Countries*
Humans
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding