With support from the training was held from June 30th to 3rd July 2025, aimed at enhancing the skills of 27 attendees, including 9 staff from MRCG at LSHTM. The workshop underscores MRCG at LSHTM's dedication to enhancing healthcare and research practices in Africa by empowering medical professionals with essential skills.
The four-day workshop sought to equip participants with the necessary tools and expertise, for both professional and personal career advancement in health research. Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, attendees gained valuable insights into effective grant writing, mentorship strategies, and leadership in global health research programs.
Dr Modou Jobe, IHCoR-Africa project lead at MRCG said; “Africa holds immense research potential. We hope that workshops like these will equip African researchers with the skills needed to smoothly transition into leadership roles, while ensuring that homegrown science leads to locally relevant solutions.”
The importance of such a workshop in addressing limited professional development opportunities for researchers in the health sector in The Gambia was emphasised by Professor Assan Jaye, Head of Research Training and Career Development at MRCG at LSHTM. "This program was organized to give PhD students and post-doctoral fellows the experiences and skill sets they need to further their careers both personally and professionally.”
Musa Abubakar Kana, an Epidemiologist from , Nigeria, underscored the significance of the training stating, “the knowledge and skills will impact positively on my career. The acquired skills will improve my team management capabilities and place me to competitively apply for future grants to sustain my research projects.”
Dr. Belinda Chihota, a Clinical Epidemiologist from the , shared her perspective as an early-career researcher: “Working on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in Southern Africa can be isolating. This training has helped me refine my research focus and build valuable collaborations with peers across the continent.
The workshop provided tailored training in transferable skills, including mentorship, leadership development, proposal writing, securing funding and publishing, all essential for building a successful research career.
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