Sickle Pan Africa Research Consortium TRAINing (SPARC- TRAIN) Program

Project Summary (abstract) In Africa and Nigeria over 75% of annual SCD births occur but translation of evidenced-based interventions (EBI) to public health and practice to promote health equity for SCD, its related neurological, renal and cardiovascular morbidities other hemoglobinopathies (e.g.,β thalassemia) has been lacking. The University of Abuja (UoA), University of Ibadan (UI), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and New York University (NYU) will develop a highly innovative interdisciplinary and inter-professional training program that builds on our strong history of highly visible and context specific NCD research to address the translational research gap via SPARC-TRAIN. Our training program will identify, select, and recruit 4-6 diverse talented scholars per year (20-35 total) in Nigeria, Ghana, and other West African countries who aspire to become leaders in hemoglobinopathies and implementation science research utilizing a Team Science approach. Our scholars will engage in didactic course work (short, medium, long-term) for research training at UoA, KNUST and UI. To enable the next generation of clinicians and scientists, the trainees in our program will be provided with dedicated time, optimal mentorship, formal education, and experience in developing interdisciplinary and interprofessional hypothesis-driven clinical research. We will also evaluate both short- and long-term outcomes of the hemoglobinopathies and implementation science research training program. This D43 program leverages the superb research-intensive academic culture at UoA, UI, KNUST, and NYU including affiliated faculty at the University of Chicago. Furthermore, SPARC-TRAIN will provide outstanding advanced training along five main tracks. SPARC-TRAIN fills an important gap and training need within the scientific workforce at West African institutions. Scholars’ training within this program will have a significant impact on public health by improving outcomes for patients with hemoglobinopathies.