Biomedical research to solve Africa’s major health challenges: an overview

1. Biomedical research to solve Africa’s major health challenges: an overview NcebaGqaleni, PhD South Africa

3. Introduction • Biomedical sciences refers to the application of biology-based science to medical use, be it research, health monitoring or treatment. • As 21st century medicine and healthcare becomes increasingly sophisticated, the demand grows for highly skilled biomedical scientists capable of performing and analysing a battery of technical procedures to screen, maintain and improve human health

4. Africa’s health challenges • Africa suffers a high burden of communicable diseases and an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases

5. Contribution of biomedical sciences through research • Major African Research Networks have been established • Offer opportunities for training in the continent reversing brain drain • Offer opportunities for collaboration

6. Some Major Networks • African AIDS Vaccine Programme (AAVP) • African Drugs and Diagnostics Initiative (ANDi) • Human Heredity and Health in Africa Initiative (H3Africa), and

7. The AAVP is a network of African AIDS vaccine stakeholders, led by Africans across the continent, driven by the vision of an African continent without AIDS. The AAVP supports and represents African communities involved in AIDS vaccine research and development.

8. AAVP The AAVP works to achieve five strategic outputs in Africa, namely: a) capacity strengthening; b) advocacy; c) policy development; d) increased community involvement; and e) networking. To achieve these broad objectives, the AAVP has five specific work areas, which are: i) regulatory issues; ii) ethics, law and human rights; iii) biomedical research; iv) country-based strategic planning; and v) communication and media.

9. Core research activities of AAVP • Serving as a forum for AIDS vaccine collaboration and co-ordination; • Promoting the development of appropriate AIDS vaccines for Africa; • Developing a normative framework (political, legal, regulatory and ethical) to facilitate AIDS vaccine research and trials; • Promoting training and exchange of information by facilitating networking;

10. The African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) was launched in Abuja in 2008. Its goal is to promote and sustain African-led product R&D innovation through the discovery, development and delivery of affordable new tools, including those based on traditional medicines. ANDI will also support capacity and infrastructural development.

13. Lowering Blood Glucose Oral Glucose Tolerance (OGTT) Tests

14. Lymphocyte & HIV Culture in vitro

15. A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of the Safety of Lessertiafrutescens (L.) Goldblatt and J.C. Manning (syn. Sutherlandiafrutescens (L.) R.Br.) in HIV-infectedSouth Africans

16. Cosmeceuticals Cosmeceuticals serve as a bridge between personal care products and pharmaceuticals and have been developed specifically for their medicinal and cosmetic benefits. SA’s Indigenous biological resources Cosmeceutical products based on SA plants Morula oil Buchu oil

17. Male Pattern Baldness • Spray-dried extract • Activity against 5-alpha reductase enzymeand potent anti-oxidant properties • Formulated into cream

18. Nutraceuticals • A nutraceutical is a nutrient or food that possesses curative or medicinal properties Identification of best harvesting practices Traditional food preparation Maximizing productivity via optimal cultivation Food and Pharmaceutical products, e.g. Vitamin and nutrients supplements

19. A global crisis - socioeconomic and ecological impacts Tropical plants of use in India, LRLHT Research Development (www.foa.org)

20. ‘..least one tree would be destroyed for each patient treated!  Today a single vial from our working cell bank produces enough paclitaxel to treat many patients.’ www.phytonbiotech.com/about.htm 880.000 liters per year from cell culture Taxus brevifolia

21. African plant: Catharanthus roseus ‘Due to the pharmaceutical importance and the low content in the plant of vinblastine and the related alkaloid vincristine, Catharanthus roseus became one of the best-studied medicinal plants... - A model system for biotechnology in plant secondary metabolism. ‘ Van der Heijden et al. (2004)

22. Human Health and Heredity in Africa

25. H3Africa

26. Final thoughts Biomedical sciences have the potential to contribute to improved health outcomes, human resource development, environmental sustainability, and the economic development of Africa in a manner that includes our indigenous knowledge system This will only be achieved through collaboration and partnerships