Page 55 - JCTR-9-5

Journal of Clinical and Translational Research 2023; 9(5): 357-368

Journal of Clinical and Translational Research

Journal homepage: http://www.jctres.com/en/home

REVIEW ARTICLE

Enhancing clinical and translational research in Africa: a comprehensive

exploration of challenges and opportunities for advancement

Gbolahan Olatunji , Kokori Emmanuel , Osadebamwen W. Osaghae , Isarinade Timilehin , Nicholas Aderinto *,
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1
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1
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Muili Opeyemi Abdulbasit 3
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1 Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, Department of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health, Baltimore, United States of America, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
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ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Article history: Background: Clinical and translational research in Africa faces challenges from limited infrastructure,
Received: June 19, 2023 resource scarcity, and a high disease burden. However, the continent offers promising opportunities
Revised: July 27, 2023 with diverse populations, unique genetics, biodiversity, and traditional medicine practices.
Accepted: July 28, 2023 Aim: This research aims to comprehensively understand the challenges and opportunities in clinical
Published Online: October 02, 2023 and translational research in Africa.
Conclusion: We highlight the immense potential for advancing clinical and translational research in
Keywords: Africa while addressing researchers’ challenges. By leveraging opportunities, investing in research
Africa infrastructure, and prioritizing participant protection, African countries can make significant strides
translational research in health-care advancements and contribute to global research efforts. This study presents a roadmap
clinical research for policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers to collaboratively work toward enhancing clinical and
healthcare translational research in Africa, ultimately leading to improved health-care outcomes and addressing
research funding the continent’s unique health needs.
Relevance for Patients: Strengthening clinical and translational research in Africa allows the
*Corresponding author: investigation of disease factors specific to African populations, leading to the development of evidence-
Nicholas Aderinto based interventions that are more effective in addressing the continent’s health challenges. This will
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Ladoke ultimately improve health-care outcomes for African patients and impact global scientific knowledge.
Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso,
Nigeria.
E-mail: nicholasoluwaseyi6@gmail.com
1. Introduction
© 2023 Author(s). This is an Open-Access
article distributed under the terms of the Clinical and translational research stands at the forefront of modern medicine, serving
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial as a crucial catalyst for advancing global healthcare and ultimately improving patient
License, permitting all non-commercial use, outcomes [1]. It bridges fundamental scientific discoveries and their practical application
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, in clinical settings, enabling the translation of scientific knowledge into tangible benefits
provided the original work is properly cited.
for patients [2]. Clinical and translational research results from the bedrock of evidence-
based medicine, empowering health-care professionals to make informed decisions and
provide high-quality care [3]. Despite significant progress in clinical research worldwide,
there remains a striking disparity in the advancement of clinical and translational research
within the African continent. Africa is emerging as a significant player based on its size,
demographics, economic growth, and commitment to improving healthcare and life
expectancy [4]. With a population of over 1.34 billion people, projected to reach two billion
by 2038 and 2.5 billion by 2050, Africa constitutes over 17% of the global population [5].
Moreover, it bears the highest disease burden globally, accounting for approximately 25%
of all diseases [6]. These factors create an opportune environment for conducting clinical

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.09.202305.23-00079