National Institute of Health Research

Today we spent the morning at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) in Dar es Salaam! We first met with the Director General of NIMR, Mwele Malecela, who is also a scientific advisory board member of Grand Challenges Canada. Having known our family for some years, Mwele gave us a very warm welcome.

For the earlier part of the morning we were shown around the research facilities and training labs. Some of the labs that were originally created for HIV/AIDS research are now being used in research with influenza. It was great to see that the equipment could be incorporated into more than one program. We were also able to see PhD students and training lab technicians conducting their work!

A lab technician at work

There was also a group of researchers eager to demonstrate their new herbal drug products. Among these were drugs for erectile dysfunction and a drug for opportunistic infections in HIV+ patients. They predict, however, that their bestseller will be a baobab juice that is drunk for improved health and vitality!

Enjoying the demonstration of herbal products

A group of researchers from different research groups and institutions such as Ifakara Health Institute, NIMR and the Tanzanian Research Forum were assembled to learn about funding opportunities. They were especially interested in the Global Mental Health Request for Proposals put out by Grand Challenges Canada.

(ATTN Researchers! Learn more about the Global Mental Health RFP here: http://www.grandchallenges.ca/grand-challenges/gc4-non-communicable-diseases/mentalhealth/)

This group, in my opinion, was particularly receptive to the presentation and had a lot of interesting things to say in the discussion period about Global Mental Health and health innovation in low- and middle-income countries. They agreed that in Tanzania, relatives or friends with mental health problems go untreated. In some cases, the condition is so stigmatized and unwanted that they are put aside and even locked away. It made me hopeful that Grand Challenges Canada is bringing attention and financial support to this neglected problem.