By Aisha Hussain, V-BRCH Program Manager at AKTH
With a drive to alleviate the challenge of an under-capacitated health system and meet the need for skilled clinical investigators who can generate evidence to tackle the double burden of HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the Vanderbilt-Nigeria Building Research Capacity in HIV and Non-communicable Diseases (V-BRCH) program organized a Grant Writing Workshop at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in April 2022.
More than 20 participants attended the training to create a cohort of skilled Nigerian scientists, eligible to compete for independent funding, design and implement high-quality research that will generate evidence to inform policy and practice, leading to improved outcomes for Nigerians impacted by HIV-associated NCDs.
While declaring the workshop open, the Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Professor Abdurahaman-Abba Sheshe, rated the program as “critically important,” wishing he had more time on his hands to be a participant.
Scholars from the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) and AKTH, including Professor Muktar Aliyu, Dr. Aimalohi Ahonkhai, Dr. Kevin Gibas, Professor Mahmoud Sani, and Dr. Baba Musa, among others, were physically present to share best practices and provide participants with guidance on critical components of writing strong grant proposals, review potential funding sources, and discuss different types of career development, research, and programmatic grants relevant to participants’ personal or professional goals.
Professor Kamilu Karaye, a Consultant Cardiologist at AKTH and panelist in one of the various practical break-out sessions, stated, “There was no better place to be at this time, considering the hospital’s needs, than at this workshop.”
They also provided opportunities to familiarize participants with metrics for grant review and key components of the grant review process, including understanding and applying principles of effective scientific communication for grant writing applications and communicating effectively with grant funding agencies and foundations.
This work is supported by the Fogarty International Center and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number D43 TW011544.
View event photos HERE.
View the event program and agenda HERE.