Strengthening Research Laboratory Capacity of Clinical Research on Endemic Diseases in Accra, Ghana

Capacity strengthening encompasses both the infrastructure and the related technical capacity building ín order to ensure clinical research to be performed at the University of Ghana Medical School Korlebu teaching Hospital. The need for strengthening of such facilities and capabilities was identified for long through ongoing research collaborations between the applicant and the hosting scientist. Nonexisting or non-reliable laboratory facilities were repeatedly found to build the major stumbling block for the development of research proposals, designing of research projects, and conducting the work properly and timely.

Therefore, the workshops intend to convene stakeholders from different environments of within the Kerle-bu teaching hospital to pull together possibilities and existing laboratory infrastructure and research capabilities in order to match them to the existing clinical needs encountered in the largest hospital in the capital of Ghana. Several possible contributions, be it financially, technically, and in terms of human resources, which have not been considered in detail, are put together and commonly reflected on. The goal is to come up with common decisions by all participating stakeholders on laboratory facilities needed, related personnel training needed, division of work and sharing of facilities that can be regulated, and a strategy on the strengthening of research laboratory and capacity building, including solutions on domestic funding.

lt is our firm conviction that a proper and strategic building up of research laboratory facilities alongside with research capacity building must increase the quantity and quality of clinical research at the Kerle-bu teaching hospital and lead to sustainable research activities in close proximity to the public health problems in Accra. Such a strengthened research laboratory capacity also allows the applicant and the hosting scientist to continue, and extend on, their scientific collaborations and their career developments.

Objectives:-

i) convene crucial stakeholders from within the KBTH, together with important administrative supporters
ii) Compiling infomation on existing elements (laboratory infrastructure, research capacities, personnel, clinical needs, disease foci)
iii) Consideration of various Options in terms of laboratory capacity strengthening
iv) Inclusion of elements nicely acting in concertv) Stakeholders from KBTH prioritize the opportunities and major bottlenecks for research laboratory strengthening
vi) Stakeholders from KBTH agree on laboratory facilities and related capacity building and way forward for funding and designing the strategy
vii) Stakeholders from KBTH develop a strategy for strengthening research laboratory capacity and come up with a proposal.

-Dr. Michael Käser, Head Project and Grant Service Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
–Dr. med. Peter Puplampu, Head Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Korle-bu teaching hospital (KBTH), University of Ghana Medical School