Projects
In October 2020, the network established the WANIDA COVID -19 research group to coordinate SARS-nCov-2 research in the subregion. The group is composed of:
- One representative of each ACE (7 reps)
- Dr. Peter Quashie, WACCBIP
- Dr. Onike Folarin, ACEGID
- Dr. Mariama Diallo, CEA-PCMT
- Dr. Etienne Bilgo, ITECH-MTV
- Dr. Junaid Kabir, ACENTDFB
- Dr. Isah Abubakar Aliyu, ACEPHAP
- Dr. Emmanuel Ogbadoyi, ACEMFS
- Scientific advisor for WANIDA: Dr. Nicaise Ndam, IRD
- Regional coordinator for ACE Partner: Dr. Mamadou Diallo, IRD
- WANIDA network coordinator: Mrs. Olivia Koupaki, WACCBIP, IRD
WANIDA COVID-19 Research Group
In October 2020, the network established the WANIDA COVID -19 research group to coordinate SARS-nCov-2 research in the subregion. The group is composed of:
- One representative of each ACE (7 reps)
- Dr. Peter Quashie, WACCBIP
- Dr. Onike Folarin, ACEGID
- Dr. Mariama Diallo, CEA-PCMT
- Dr. Etienne Bilgo, ITECH-MTV
- Dr. Junaid Kabir, ACENTDFB
- Dr. Isah Abubakar Aliyu, ACEPHAP
- Dr. Emmanuel Ogbadoyi, ACEMFS
- Scientific advisor for WANIDA: Dr. Nicaise Ndam, IRD
- Regional coordinator for ACE Partner: Dr. Mamadou Diallo, IRD
- WANIDA network coordinator: Mrs. Olivia Koupaki, WACCBIP, IRD
Objectives
- Develop research ideas and projects (encourage the collaboration of at least 2 ACEs per project, favor multicenter projects which can be replicated across the network in each country)
- Write proposals and secure additional grants which will help strengthen WANIDA’s research development activities
- Collaborate within the network but also with other higher education institutions and government research institutions
- Encourage joint publications
Covid-19 immediate efforts
- Combat the current COVID-19 pandemic
- Draw on the wealth of expertise and network partnerships to conduct COVID-19-related research across partner countries
- The focus will be on conducting:
- Serological studies to characterise immune response to infection
- Sequencing and metagenomic analyses to monitor virus evolution and pathogenesis
- Completing health systems research to assess dynamics of knowledge and practices relevant to COVID-19
The WANIDA Covid-19 Research group held its first meeting on 03 November 2020 and met regularly to develop several projects.
Each project was evaluated by the management team and after a transparent evaluation, WANIDA selected 5 projects and will provide funding for:
- Seroprevalence Study of SARS-CoV-2 in Niger State Nigeria using Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test (ACEPHAP)
- Sero-Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in North-Western Nigeria (ACEMFS)
- Investigating the determinants of the spread of COVID-19 in rural settings of West Africa based on blood-fed mosquitoes (ITECH-MTV)
- Investigating the impact of COVID-19 during pregnancy in West Africa (Noguchi, WACCBIP, ITECH- MTV, ACEPHAP, ACENTDFB)
- Molecular Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in West African Countries: Sequencing and metagenomic analyses to monitor virus evolution and pathogenesis (WANIDA Multicenter project – Burkina, Ghana, Nigeria, Guinea)