A project that emerges in response to the high incidence of albinism in the provinces of Huíla and Benguela – regions characterised by their high levels of solar exposure, social vulnerabilities and high rates of oncological disease. The objective is to establish a solid and integrated infrastructure for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases in albinos in conjunction with evaluating the molecular and clinical biomarkers, defining the tumoral microenvironment of skin lesions and designing a clinical-pathologic molecular model able to contribute towards better prognosis.

Location: Angola 
Promoters: Universidade Katyavala Bwila
Partners: Central Hospital of Lubango, the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Oporto and GONCOinitiative
Researcher: Madalena Chimpolo

Establishing a research ecosystem integrating teaching, research and the provision of health services. This project strives to strengthen the response capacity of Guinea Bissau towards the oncological challenges currently experienced, improving the infrastructures and training specialist professionals to boost the rate of early diagnosis and expand treatment options. Among other issues, the country registers a low rate of early cancer diagnoses and with only limited treatment options due to the overall lack of infrastructures and specialist professionals.

Location: Guinea Bissau
Promoter: Jean Piaget de Bissau University
Researcher: Bubacar Embaló

This project seeks to grasp the relationship between tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus, one of the chronic non-transmissible diseases that are emerging as a growing problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, coexisting with high rates of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. This project sets out to undertake a prospective study in two groups of patients previously identified as bearers of latent infection by tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus, with the objective of deciphering the bidirectional relationship between the two conditions, thus evaluating the impact of diabetes on the development and progression of tuberculosis as well as the effect of tuberculosis on glycemic control.

Location: Guinea Bissau
Promoter: Lusófona University
Researcher: Baltazar Cá

This project aims to strengthen the capabilities of Pediatric Research Centres that are engaged in cutting-edge research in pediatrics, especially as regards the preparation of clinical trials for new drugs and vaccines in collaboration with external institutions and with EDCTP financing. Thus, this project sets out to establish the infrastructural and technological conditions and strengthen the human resources of the Microbiology Laboratory at the Eduardo Mondlane University. The training is focused on best clinical and laboratory practices, managing clinical trials and on bioethical questions.

Location: Moçambique
Promoter: Faculty of Medicine, the Eduardo Mondlane University
Researcher: José Sumbana

Location: Angola
Promoter: National Institute for Health Research in Angola/CISA

Location: Mozambique
Promoter: National Institute of Health in Mozambique

Location: Cape Verde
Promoter: University of Cape Verde