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The Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Prof Mark T. Gladwin has visited the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to discuss partnerships on sickle cell disease and cancer research.

During his visit, Prof. Gladwin made a seminar presentation at the Center for Clinical Trials, Research, and Implementation Science (CCTRIS) on “Pulmonary Hypertension and End-Organ Failure in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.”

He said that Nigeria has a high prevalence of sickle cell disease with “more children living with sickle cell disease than all the other countries in the world”. Prof. Gladwin called for more research into the disease, especially as people are living longer with it and might have organ complications.

The Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo welcomed Prof. Gladwin and stated that collaboration is pivotal in building the capacity of medical practitioners in the country.

“In the next few weeks, LUTH is going to do the first transplant for sickle cell in Nigeria and definitely, that will need a lot of support from those who have the experience,” he said.

Executive Director of the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) Marlene and Stewart Greenbaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Taofeek Owonikoko also made a presentation on “Building the Human Resource and Infrastructure for Oncogenic Health” during the visit.

He emphasized the need to build institution-to-institution partnerships in Nigeria and Africa to advance the management of non-communicable diseases. He revealed that there would be an 80% increase in cancer diagnosis and death between now and 2040 in Africa.

 “We must do research that is problem-driven while we collaborate with colleagues who research and practice in well-resourced areas. We should not be ashamed to seek collaboration with our colleagues who operate in better-funded environments,” Dr. Owonikoko.

The visiting team also included the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, Prof. Clement Adebamowo, UMB  Division Head, Epidemiology and Prevention at the Institute of Human Virology, Prof. Man Charurat, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, IHVN Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Charles Olalekan Mensah and Executive Director, International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE), Prof. Alash’le Abimiku.

They conducted a tour of the Lagos Teaching Hospital, Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund NSIA-LUTH Cancer Center, and facilties of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria.