Do you have an #AI or #DataScience project transforming health research in #Gambia? This is your chance to showcase it! Submit your poster today & be part of the future of innovation! Register here 👉 tinyurl.com/4ejrrh6f & send your posters to [email protected] #DataScienceAwarenessMonth

Our esteemed colleague, Professor @jaynesutherlandtb.bsky.social delivered her inaugural lecture today, reflecting on her remarkable 2️⃣0️⃣+ year journey in academic #research. Join us to congratulate Prof. Sutherland on this very significant milestone! 🎉 #InauguralLecture

🎉🎉🎉Today, Prof @jaynesutherlandtb.bsky.social will be delivering her #InauguralLecture, showcasing her work in clinical immunology & #GlobalHealth research. Read more about her lecture & join us at 4:15pm GMT 👇 tinyurl.com/3mhd97up Stay tuned!

🎉🎉🎉Big congratulations to our Hepatitis Group, for their outstanding achievement at the 8th Conference on Liver Disease in Africa (COLDA 2025), organised by the Society on Liver Disease in Africa (SOLDA) in Accra, #Ghana. #COLDA2025 1/3

This week we are hosting a training course on Molecular & Genomic Approaches to Clinical Microbiology for microbiologists & lab scientists. organised in🤝with @eventswcs.bsky.social, the course explores how genomics transforms practice, by guiding participants through region-specific case studies.

As part of the #ECOWAS Lassa Fever Conference 2025, @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social with #IVI hosted a side event on the @cepi.net capacity building project on “Strengthening Clinical Trial Capacity & Advancing Regional Epidemic Preparedness for Lassa Fever.” #ELFIC2025 #ARCWA 1/4

MRCG is participating in the 2nd #ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference, an opportunity for research partnerships. The theme, “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa & Emerging Infectious Diseases,” aligns with our vision to improve health & save lives. 1/4

Strengthening capacity for data-driven health research! Last week, #MRCG joined partners for a virtual kick off meeting of the #AFRICAI-RI project aims to establish Africa's first federated, multi-institution imaging data infrastructure for AI-powered respiratory disease detection.

Missed out on a ticket for LSHTM’s Health Misinformation UNPACKED? Our event is proving so popular we’ve released EXTRA online tickets so more people can learn how to fight dangerous health #misinformation! Get your ticket👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...

Yesterday, we commence a 3️⃣-day Research Leadership and Grant Writing Workshop for senior researchers from 7️⃣ institutions in The #Gambia. Organised in 🤝with #MoHERST & supported by #UNESCO NATCOM, the workshop is designed to strengthen transferable research & leadership skills for 2️⃣7️⃣ participants.

#NewLaunchAlert! Our @epiverse-trace.bsky.social project launched the #EpiTrainingKit #Africa, an online course designed for Africa’s cultural, linguistic & epidemiological contexts. The course is now available in English: tinyurl.com/w83aaxbh French: tinyurl.com/yyawpj29 #PublicHealth

#DidYouKnow in the 1990s #MRCG researchers have worked with local communities to conduct #ClinicalTrials assessing the RTS,S vaccine in enhancing #Malaria immunity in young children! Today, RTS,S is the world’s first approved malaria vaccine, providing life-saving protection to #EndMalaria.

Meet Our Presenters! As we gear up for the #Ecowas Lassa Fever International Conference 2025, we will be hosting this side event to share insights on the @cepi.net capacity building project aimed at strengthening epidemic preparedness & collaboration. #ELFIC2025

Kicking off the Genomic Surveillance of Malaria project in #WestAfrica, building the science & capacity needed to track malaria parasites and vectors. With support from @nihr.bsky.social, this collaboration will strengthen data sharing, research & strategies for #Malaria elimination. #EndMalaria

🌡️How is a hotter world endangering #pregnant women & their babies? In the Economist, Dr Ana Bonell @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social & Prof Debra Jackson @lshtm.bsky.social, discuss the latest research on heat & maternal health & the importance of urgent climate action👇 www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

Last Saturday, volunteers from the @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social planted 92 indigenous & endangered trees in Kunjo, #Farafenni, a step towards climate action, restoration & a healthier future. Just like our #Fajara field station, we hope the Kunjo site will flourish into a thriving ecosystem.

Behind every breakthrough is a dedicated face in the lab Meet the scientists & technicians @lshtm.bsky.social & @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social working to understand 🦟 & fight malaria, dengue, Zika, & more. This #WorldMosquitoDay2025, let’s shine a light on their vital work. 👉 bit.ly/45qtn6F

#WorldMosquitoDay Spotlight Meet Harouna Soumare, an Entomology Laboratory Manager at the @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social. Harouna reminds us of the importance of prevention measures to keep #mosquitoes at bay. Read more about it here 👉 tinyurl.com/mrxy6et7 #EndMalaria

It’s #WorldMosquitoDay and we are proud to highlight a major step forward in the fight against insect-borne diseases. In 2024, @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social inaugurated an insectary in Fajara, a game-changer in research & innovation to help #EndMalaria & other mosquito-borne illnesses in #Africa.

Ahead of #WorldMosquitoDay2025, we celebrate the brilliant scientists and technicians 👩🏽‍🔬🔬 at @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social and @lshtm.bsky.social whose dedication helps us better understand mosquitoes 🦟

As part of the @epiverse-trace.bsky.social project, @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social staff with @lshtm.bsky.social are facilitating a two-week training at MRC Uganda. Participants are learning advanced outbreak analytics tools to strengthen real-time monitoring, analysis & response to health emergencies.

In 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣, @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social completed a study on the ETVAX vaccine. The goal was to see if the vaccine is safe & works well in protecting children aged 6️⃣ to 1️⃣8️⃣ months in #Gambia from diarrhoea caused by a germ called ETEC (Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli). Read more 👉 tinyurl.com/4suh2tz2

Join us, International Vaccine Institute & health leaders in #W/Africa as we gear up for the @ecowas.bsky.social Lassa Fever Conference 2025. We will be hosting this side event to share insights on the @cepi.net capacity building project aimed at strengthening #EpidemicPreparedness & collaboration.

#DidYouKnow In 1982, our #Basse & #Walikunda field stations were established to conduct large‐scale studies such as the pneumococcal, meningitis, diarrhoea & #malaria vaccine projects. This has greatly served the achievement of major strides in vaccine development over the years. #VaccinesWork

#NewStudyAlert 🆕research led by scientists @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social @lshtm.bsky.social uncovered vital evidence that could fast-track the development of a vaccine against Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A), a major cause of childhood illness & death worldwide. Read more 👉 tinyurl.com/44azs8dy

Dr Armel Zemsi, our Head of the Clinical Trials Unit, was featured on Conversations at CARE, a podcast by #PasteurDakar, where he shared insights on the realities of conducting clinical trials in #Africa, drawing from his experience at the @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social. Watch: tinyurl.com/2kuvzbym

In 2022, MRCG launched the Early Developmental Epigenetics and Nutrition study to investigate how a mother's diet and environment around the time of conception can influence her baby’s genome with implications for growth, development, & disease risk later in life. Read more 👉 tinyurl.com/mretaat7

As part of our #WorldHepatitisDay outreach, we joined #QTVGambia's Morning Show to raise awareness on hepatitis B and efforts to eliminate mother to child transmission & expand access to the #HepatitisB birth dose to protect. #VaccinesWork

Earlier today, we joined the #Gambian Ministry of Health’s National Hepatitis Control Program and partners on a press briefing to highlight efforts to combat #HepatitisB in #Gambia. #WorldHepatitisDay 1/3

Last year, our Hepatitis Research Group & partners published a landmark study in @thelancet.com exploring the clinical outcomes of untreated chronic hepatitis B in #Gambia. As we mark #WorldHepatitisDay, we amplify the call to eliminate hepatitis B in Africa. More 👉 tinyurl.com/2vmrnc5t

🚨 #OpportunityAlert: Head of Research Support Office Are you passionate about advancing research support operations in a leading #globalhealth research center? Join our vibrant team in enhancing health outcomes worldwide. Apply 👉 tinyurl.com/43jmbv8j 🗓️18th August 2025

For decades, malaria was part of daily life for the people of Sotuma Sainey Kandeh, interrupting school, wellbeing & livelihood. But in 2024, for the first time, the village recorded 0️⃣ malaria cases, thanks 👏 to a new malaria vaccine trial by the MRCG. #EndMalaria Read more: tinyurl.com/496jj36u

In February 2025, MRCG researchers participated in a multi-country study to evaluate the prevalence of TB infection. The outcomes of the study will inform public health strategies, guide resource allocation, and improve early intervention programs in high-burden areas. 👇 tinyurl.com/ms7stwv7

Today, we're hosting a stakeholders meeting to present the findings of the Intrapartum Azithromycin trial (PregnAnZI-2), which studied whether giving a single dose of azithromycin during labour could prevent sepsis & death in mothers & newborns. 1/1

MRCG Hepatitis Research Group kicks off a 2-day workshop to introduce the Hepatitis B birth-dose study which will asses the implementation of the #Gambia's Ministry of Health's strategy for Hepatitis B birth-dose coverage in five health facilities, funded by Royal Society Hygiene Tropical Medicine.

🖊️🗓️Mark you diaries and join us for our next webinar! Prof Grant Mackenzie @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social will be sharing initial findings from a large-scale trial studying #pneumococcal #vaccine schedules in The Gambia 🇬🇲💉. 🔗 bit.ly/4lPMGeN

The second edition of the Pan-Africa Network for Genomic Surveillance of Poverty Related Disease & Emerging Pathogens #DataManagement & #Biobanking training is underway, with particpants from 11 countries in Sub-Saharan #Africa organised in collaboration with MRCG and funded by #EDCTP3.

Happy Friday! We're pleased to share the new issue of Our Science #Newsletter. This edition features a range of activities & achievements from across the @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social. We look forward to sharing more exciting news in our upcoming releases. Enjoy!👉https://tinyurl.com/7dvb5npm

👋 Meet Ya-Jankey Jagne! In this month's Vaccine Centre spotlight, Jankey tells us about her #vaccine #research @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social looking at immune response in African populations and how she likes to spend her free time. 🌍💉 ➡️ bit.ly/40y7WOj #PublicHealth

Professor Umberto D’Alessandro, #MRCG Unit Director shares insights on the first malaria medicine approved for babies. “Babies have been systematically excluded from clinical trials assessing the safety and efficacy of antimalarial treatments….” Read more: tinyurl.com/mwftby5h #EndMalaria

A major win for child health! A study by MRCG has influenced a change in @who.int's policy on vaccination against pneumonia and #meningitis in children. This will help protect more children from deadly diseases. Read more 👇https://tinyurl.com/3cv7rmr8

The MRCG data science cluster recently embarked on an outreach program to Marina International School, West African International School and St. Peter Senior Secondary School to raise awareness about data science, its practical applications, & its potential to drive innovation & social impact.

The ARC-WA project is building a mobile clinical trials unit (CTU) to bring high-quality vaccine research closer to communities. This project is led by MRCG in partnership with International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and funded by @cepi.net. Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/yc7umyh3

Today, we kickstart a 4-day Researcher Leadership & Grant Writing workshop for 27 healthcare professionals in collaboration with KEMRI_Wellcome & @lshtm.bsky.social, funded by @nihr-pru-bass.bsky.social. The programme also provides mentorship opportunities for early career researchers.

Our 2025 winners focused on overlooked aspects of epidemic preparedness: 🦟 Better integrating neglected tropical disease interventions 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Bringing communities into outbreak response 🗣️ Recognising health worker experiences in refugee settings Read about the winning research 👉 bit.ly/4lwpRwG

Our next series of talks before lunch includes Will Hulme visiting from @bennettoxford.bsky.social on using electronic health records in a target trial emulation framework and Karen Forrest‬ on the new Electronic Medical Record System from @mrcunitgambia.bsky.social #TTEsymposium

Want to know the key innovations & challenges in global vaccination for children? Our Vaccines & Immunity Theme lead EdClarke Vaccine shared some insights at the recent Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health Conference 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. Watch➡️ tinyurl.com/4sb8xfrp #GlobalHealth

We are proud to announce the formal launch of the African Population Cohorts Consortium (APCC), a milestone in African-led health research and data innovation. Read more about the press release 👇 tinyurl.com/56bausf3

👏Big congrats to Mamadu Baldeh, our PhD fellow, for winning the Best Poster Prize at the 12th #EDCTPForum! Mamadu's research focuses on evaluating implementation strategies for innovative point-of-care diagnostic tests to advance #InfectiousDisease management in #Africa.

This week, we hosted a training on Mobile Phone Data for Better Decision Making in #Gambia. Organised in collaboration with GBOS, PURA, University of The Gambia & the World Bank, the training equipped participants with practical skills in managing, processing & analysing large-scale datasets.