Interview with Dr. Michael Makanga, Executive Director of the EDCTP
You’re listening to episode 1 of “African Research Excellence – DSW in conversation” – where each week Eoghan Walsh and Agustin Martin of DSW interview outstanding African researchers and advocates in the field of global health research, to learn more about their work and their views on the needs and opportunities to advance GH R&I in Africa.
2020 is set to be a big year for EU-Africa relations, and for global health – even before the Covid-19 emergency. One of the organisations at the forefront of these issues is the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), an EU partnership established in 2004 to advance the cause of research and innovation targeted at eradicating diseases of poverty and neglected tropical diseases – HIV & AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and others.
So we’re delighted to have on as our first guest Dr. Michael Makanga, Executive Director of the EDCTP. In a wide-ranging talk, Dr. Makanga talks about:
- How Covid-19 is impacting on the EU’s investment in health research, and how the pandemic has been a wake-up call for the global community of the value of global health research
- Lessons learned from Ebola and Lassa fever outbreaks
- How European funding has been able to stimulate the growth of a cohort of African researchers working in the region, directly contributing to global health R&I, and indirectly into the fight against covid.
Thanks to Dr. Makanga for his time and insight. You can find out more about DSW and the podcast at our website, dsw.org, and if you haven’t already please subscribe on your favourite podcast player! This podcast was edited by Jonathan Rowe, and the artwork was designed by Alissa Thaler.
Until next time.
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