Supporting research leadership in Africa

Abstract

The Editorial published in The Lancet Global Health and The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology by Davies and Mullan1,2 spotlighted Africa’s need to build local health research capacity. Parachuting in research solutions from developed countries doesn’t work: “African researchers are best placed to ask questions that are relevant to African issues.”1 Withdrawal of support from the Wellcome Trust and PEPFAR is a major setback for research development in Africa. Additional challenges include the need to develop multidisciplinary research team approaches, bridge the knowledge translation gap, and find local sustainable African research leadership. But can all of this be done at reasonable cost?