Research

Weather forecasting to keep the population safe*

Research, Stories / By / September 7, 2017

As weather forecasts are becoming increasingly detailed, data volumes are increasing as well, demanding high-speed connectivity and supercomputing power. In Switzerland, the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss) is currently installing a new forecasting model called COSMO-NExT. The COSMO-NExT model has won the Swiss ICT Award 2016, and among other things it reduces the …

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Malaria drug could cut women’s risk of other infections*

Research, Stories / By / September 7, 2017

A drug used to combat malaria in pregnant women could also treat sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a study shows. Results of the study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, a medicine recommended during antenatal care visit for intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) of malaria in pregnant women in …

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African Research Universities to collaborate on multinational projects

Capacity Building, Research, Stories / By / September 6, 2017

Imagine 16 leading research universities in Africa putting together a pool of researchers with vast expertise, knowledge and resources to help a single country or agency on the continent undertake a research project in a specialised area. Or Picture the African continent identifying major multinational research projects on cross cutting issues and then using continent-wide …

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Africa’s Health won’t improve without reliable data and collaboration*

Health Science, Research, Stories / By / September 7, 2017

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that “all people are born equal in dignity and rights”. Sadly, this statement doesn’t reflect billions of people’s daily lives. Health is one of the areas in which many – if not most – people have no real rights. Social determinants of health, as defined by the World …

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Weather data can help Africa reduce Carbon dioxide emissions

Climate Change, Research / By / September 21, 2016

In the absence of meaningful measurement techniques, how do African countries back their commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emission in their quest to reduce the effects of climate change? The answer is obvious: It is difficult. This is the reason some countries in Africa, with the help of international organisations are setting up of projects …

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Scientists look to mosquito data to map spread of disease

Health Science / By / September 21, 2016

Mosquitoes that carry the dengue and chikungunya viruses are more widespread than ever, believe scientists mapping the global spread of the insects. There are no treatments or vaccines for these diseases, so knowing where the mosquitoes that transmit them occur and thrive can help focus research and public health resources, the scientists say. A study, …

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First African anti-malaria drug to enter clinical trial

Health Science / By / September 21, 2016

“We need to debunk the myth that Africa cannot be a source of health innovation,” says Kelly Chibale, Director of the Drug Discovery and Development Centre at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He believes there should be more African-led drug research so that the continent is not just seen as a place where …

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Giant rats helping control TB in Mozambique, Tanzania*

Health Science / By / September 22, 2016

A technology that relies on trained African giant pouched rats — named HeroRATS — to sniff out tuberculosis (TB) and diagnose the disease faster than conventional diagnostic methods is helping save lives in Mozambique and Tanzania. Mozambique and Tanzania are among 22 high-burden nations suffering from TB, with 58,270 and 63,151 new cases of the …

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Join campaign to promote Open Science in Africa

Open Science / By / September 22, 2016

Be part of the larger community supporting the promotion of Open Science in Africa by being one of the signatories to the Dakar Declaration on Promotion of Open Science in Africa. The Dakar Declaration on promotion of Open Science in Africa was prepared for and signed by participants to the Sci-GaIA workshop on Promotion of …

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