Africa Center of Excellence ACE2
The Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) has developed over 15 medicinal products, with five submitted for patenting to the national intellectual property office. This success is attributed to a strong network of institutions and experts working nationally, regionally, and internationally to build Africa’s medical discovery capacity.
“The new state-of-the-art medical discovery facilities, which are effectively supporting drug development and other medical discovery initiatives, have been key,” said CDT-Africa Director Prof. Abebaw Fekadu.
He highlights the center’s critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic: “One of the most important contributions of CDT-Africa came during the COVID-19 period, during which the center reoriented its activities to play a national role in the control of the pandemic through evidence synthesis and other direct engagements.”
The center has reached over 100,000 people, including children, through national health exhibitions, capacity building in medicine development and clinical trials. These efforts aim to improve access to essential medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines, addressing diseases that contribute to high mortality rates and hinder regional development.
“We have built a network of institutions and a team of experts nationally, regionally, and internationally with a shared goal of building medical discovery capacity in Africa. This was driven by the principles of excellence,” Prof. Abebaw explained.
A study conducted by CDT-Africa in nine East and Southern African countries revealed that “over 80% of drugs and nearly 100% of vaccines used in Africa are imported, and 80% of mortality is caused by lack of access to essential medicines at the point of care.”
As part of its commitment to addressing neglected tropical diseases, CDT-Africa is developing new treatments for scabies and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) using natural resources and repurposing existing drugs. “Already, one of the postdoctoral fellows of CDT-Africa has received a three-month exchange training on CL with the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences,” Prof. Abebaw noted.
Over time, CDT-Africa aspires to spark a transformative revolution in Africa, reducing reliance on imports while ensuring greater access to life-saving treatments for all.
https://www.cdt-africa.org/
Inter-University Council for East Africa Plot M833, Kigobe Road Kyambogo, Kampala, Uganda
P.O.Box 7110, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: (+256) 414256251/2
Email: info@iucea.org
