EU-Africa PerMed has contributed to a successful implementation of PM in the global context by the integration of 4 new African organisations in ICPerMed. It has created the Action Plan to help and support the designs and implementation of joint PM projects and programmes between Europe and Africa, as well as strengthening bilateral EU-AU science, technology and innovation (STI) relations in the area of health.
The mapping work has shown that the African continent cannot be seen as whole when it comes to discuss about health/biomedical research and opportunities for collaboration with Europe. Many cultural, political, social and economic differences exist between regions and countries in Africa, that influence the opportunities and options for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and health research collaboration within Africa and internationally and determine the models and programmes to support and strengthen this collaboration.
EU-Africa PerMed has contributed towards
• Integrating four African organisations in ICPerMed, so the African perspective is well represented in the international consortium and the global PM agenda.
• Increasing the knowledge and understanding among African Ministries of health, Ministries of Education and science, Research funders, academia, clinicians and the general public on the opportunities that PM offers to optimise prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and advancing the uptake of PM in healthcare.
• Supporting the creation of AU-EU scientific networks interested in PM collaborative projects
• Advancing the creation of regional/national PM focus groups in Africa.
• Contributing to raise awareness and knowledge among Africa policy makers of the benefits of PM and why it is important that Africa does not lose the possibility of benefiting of incorporating genomic testing and technologies in important areas such as: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), Rare and Genetic disease, Sickle-Cell Disease, Cancer, Disease outbreak and response surveillance.
• Building capacity, strengthening local expertise, and fostering international research partnerships.
• Raising awareness also among European Policy makers, funders and researchers of the importance and value of incorporating African organizations in PM research consortiums.
