Cancer: Primary, Translational Research and Clinical Trials in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Primary and translational research and clinical trials in health-related issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is low but rising. They help to generate evidence which is useful for physician and patient decision making. They inform practice guidelines, quality measurement and service improvement, and they provide baseline information for product approval, organization and management decisions, program financing and priority setting. SSA is limited in conducting primary and translational research and clinical trials due to funding, logistical, and ethical barriers. Multimodal approach is necessary to scale up these forms of research in SSA. This should include rebranding and repositioning of the academic and research centers in SSA to enable researchers and scientists that work in these institutions engage in world-class research without having to emigrate. Similarly, platforms should be created for formation of partnerships and networks. The partnership can be by North to South, South to South collaboration or Public private partnership. A number of such thriving partnership exist in SSA. While more of such should be encouraged, efforts must be made to discourage extractive partner with no intention to build the system. Scaling up primary, translational and clinical research in SSA is not only vital in addressing the cancer burden in SSA, it may help to move the frontier of science to a greater height in the world.