November 19, 2024 | News Feed | Reading time: 4 min

The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), in collaboration with the University of Ghana School of Public Health, Columbia University (CU, USA), and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS, USA,) has officially launched an International Research Training Program, to train Ghanaian researchers to address critical public health challenges through epidemiological research focusing on environmental exposures and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). This five-year program was launched at the University of Ghana School of Public Health on Tuesday, 19th November 2024.

The NEST program, titled “NCD and Environmental Research Strengthening Training” is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S.A. It aims to strengthen the capacity of researchers to produce research findings on how environmental factors can increase the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to ultimately advance public health policies and improve public health outcomes.

During the launch, discussions centred on the roles of each collaborating institution, the program’s structure, as well as strategies for its implementation. This collaborative approach, leveraging expertise from both local and international institutions, emphasizes the importance of partnerships in tackling global health challenges.

Representatives from partner institutions in Ghana and the United States of America participated in the event. KHRC was represented by its Director, Professor Kwaku Poku Asante, Mr. Japhet Anim, Ms. Yvette E. Avorgbedor, and Mr. Solomon Nyame. The University of Ghana School of Public Health was represented by its Dean, Professor Kwesi Torgpey, Professor Francis Anto, Professor Mawuli Dzodzomenyo, Professor Alexander A. Manu, and Dr. Monica Baaba Jones. Professor Darby Jack represented CU while the ISMMS was represented by Associate Professor Alison Lee

The launch of the NEST program marks a significant step towards improving Ghana’s public health research space, with emphases on the use of evidence-based findings to promote interventions and shape policies for better health outcomes.