Page 112 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

Discovery Hub in June 2022. BMGF granted Local Innovation Advances Health in Africa; Including
3-years of funding to three institutions in Ghana, African data in drug discovery and development
University of Ghana, Noguchi Memorial Research (Nature); Unlocking the potential of AI in drug
Institute and Kwame Nkrumah University of discovery; Face to face – 'Fail your way to success',
Science and Technology (KNUST). The unit is says prof behind pioneering drug discovery group at
providing mentorship, training support and UCT in The Daily Maverick, and; Our youth dividend
access to our drug discovery platform to support will usher-in the next Africa renaissance news article
the Ghanian scientists. in IOL.

(3) The Grand Challenges Africa Drug Discovery The unit hosted an Open Day on 21st October
projects continued through 2023. These are 2023 which was attended by 60 students from
supported by the unit in partnership with the local institutions interested in learning more about
BMGF, MMV and Science for Africa Foundation drug discovery careers. The Director and Dr Susan
(SFA). Support was provided to the grantees from Winks co-hosted a side event with the International
University Pretoria (South Africa), North-West Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and
University (South Africa), Chinhoyi University of Associations (IFPMA) on Powerful, locally driven
Technology (Zimbabwe), Universite de Sciences
des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako partnerships for health innovation in Africa, at the
(Mali), Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya), Conference for Public Health in Africa in Lusaka,
SAMRC (South Africa), and Stellenbosch Zambia, 7th November 2023.
University (South Africa).
In celebration of 30 years of
Science for creating a democracy in South Africa

healthier society The unit has pioneered exciting new initiatives,
The unit continued to focus on raising awareness which are in the pipeline and the unit continues
and promoting drug discovery in Africa. by to shine like a bright light, not only demonstrating
participating in a number of high-profile events what is possible on the continent but also leading
both in the scientific communities and in the general the research innovation to build the drug discovery
public to promote awareness around drug discovery industry in Africa, with the goal of improving the
in Africa. These include The 2022 H3D Symposium: health of its people as well as create science jobs
Celebrating over a decade of African-led infectious and a sustainable culture of modern integrated drug
disease drug discovery to enhance global health; discovery in Africa.

Ghana Drug Discovery Hub. Grand Challenges Cohort.

110 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24