Noncommunicable diseases are an enormous challenge to Africa's progress and collaboration between governments, business, civil society and the scientific community is needed to address this. To understand more about Africa’s increasing NCD threat, we need to bring together the brightest scientific minds to work as a team rather than struggling alone to find answers. No single country in the region has enough researchers with the appropriate mix of skills required to tackle this challenge.
Becky Willmoth's insight:
This article describes the world’s first R&D “Open Lab” for NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa. Launched by GSK in March 2014, the Africa NCD Open Lab is an innovative research network that will allow researchers across Africa to work hand in hand with GSK scientists to inform prevention and treatment strategies of NCDs in African patients.
Open sourcing software has created an explosion of technology entrepreneurs and exciting innovations across the continent. The Open Lab could enable similar innovation to thrive across healthcare research. Collaboration is key to changing the game. By working in partnership with home-grown talent the Open Lab has the potential not only lead to new treatments, but to develop the skills and knowledge of a new generation of African scientists.