Strengthening Surgical Scientists Capacity for NCD-Lifespan Research (SSSCAR) Program

Strengthening Surgical Scientists Capacity for NCD-Lifespan Research (SSSCAR) Program Project summary Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are now the most common causes of morbidity and mortality globally and their prevalence is rising, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The rising incidence and mortality rates of NCDs in Africa require novel, context-specific, resource-level appropriate research into the epidemiology, prevention and management strategies that leads to improved public health and clinical outcomes. Up to 60% of the NCDs occurring across the lifespan in LMICs are surgically amenable NCDs. Despite the high burden of surgically amenable NCDs, there has been little investment in surgical global health training and research particularly in LMICs where surgery has been overwhelmingly focused on patient care. In the SSSCAR Program, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), the Center for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, Nigeria (CBR), and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) collaborate to build the capacity of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) trainees by implementing multidisciplinary graduate training programs that would empower WACS trainees to address surgically amenable NCDs across the lifespan among women, support trainees’ career development and generate public health and clinical benefits for surgical patients.