Congratulations to BRC researcher Professor Ali Zumla, whose University of Zambia-University College London Medical School (UNZA-UCLMS) research and training project team scooped the ‘Outstanding Research Team Award’ at the opening ceremony of eighth European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership Forum this month in Zambia.
The award, consisting of a trophy and 50,000 euros, was presented by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu to representatives of the UNZA-UCLMS Program team, including Dr Peter Mwaba, ex-UCL PhD student of Professor Zumla and UCL postdoctoral scientist Dr Matthew Bates.
The UNZA-UCLMS Program team has achieved significant, multi-country research, training and capacity development deliverables on poverty-related diseases. The autopsy, clinical trials and translational research data have been used by the World Health Organization (WHO) and African governments for improving management and prevention of poverty-related diseases. The program has effectively brought together scientists, funders, politicians, and advocates to unite together in the fight against infectious diseases, particularly Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, diseases declared global emergencies by the WHO in 1993.
Professor Zumla established the UNZA-UCLMS project in 1994 in collaboration with his Zambian colleagues, Dr Peter Mwaba and Professor Chifumbe Chintu. Over the past two decades the program has networked with 34 institutions from across West, Central, South and East Africa linked to 28 European institutions.
