Enhancing Non-communicable diseases Research and Innovation Capacity in Harare, Zimbabwe (ENRICH)

Project Summary/Abstract: The University of Zimbabwe through its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (UZFMHS) is the lead centre for medical research in Zimbabwe. Currently there is a dearth of researchers to address priority NCDs in Zimbabwe and sub-Saharan Africa in general. To address this gap this application will establish the ENRICH program (Enhancing Non-communicable diseases Research and Innovation Capacity in Harare, Zimbabwe) to train a critical mass of Investigators at the UZFMHS to become proficient in NCD research. Research training and capacity building will be conducted in Cardiovascular Diseases, Pulmonary Diseases, Hematology, Stroke and Neurological Diseases, Aging and Dental and Craniofacial Diseases. The long-term goal is to generate evidence for interventions to improve care for people with NCDs in Zimbabwe and sub-Saharan Africa. The objectives of the program are to: 1. To train entry level graduate trainees up to post-Doc trainees to undertake high level research on NCDs in Zimbabwe. 2. Identify high research priority topics across the lifespan in selected NCDs to provide the research scope for the ENRICH program. 3. To establish mentoring relationships between trainees and dedicated and experienced mentors using rigorous selection criteria. 4. Strengthen research dissemination and knowledge translation to inform policy and practice. The ENRICH program will be implemented by UZFMHS faculty assisted by faculty from regional and international partners i.e. WITS University and University of Colorado Denver respectively. In addition, the program will collaborate with UZFMHS affiliated research centers such as AiBST, UZ-CRC, UZ-CTRC, BRTI among others. The research training in the chosen scientific NCD areas have been selected because of the national and institutional importance/interest and the opportunity to address research deficiencies in those areas. The program will consist of integrated training framework involving long term degrees (Masters, PhDs, post-Docs), medium term technical courses and didactic short term courses. These formal training activities will be supported by mentorship and mentored projects. In addition, trainees will undertake attachments and electives at the affiliated research entities and UCD. The period of training vary with the level of training i.e. 2 years for Masters and Post-doctorals and 3 and half years for PhDs. The program will recruit 8 PhDs, 8 Masters and 4 post-Docs over a period of 5 years.