The University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo City, Ondo State has been selected as one of 13 awardees to receive equipment that will advance scientific research and teaching.

Prof. (Mrs.) Roseangela Ifeyinwa Nwuba, a molecular and cellular parasitologist and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Medical Sciences, got the award for pursuing a novel approach in the fight against malaria.

Instead of a vaccine, which would work by triggering an immune response in the person who receives it, Prof. Nwuba and her collaborators want to use antibodies from people who are already immune to help others fight might malaria.

The announcement of the 2019 Instrumental Access awardees was made during Seeding Labs’ annual “Positively Instrumental” event held on May 1, 2019, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, which celebrated the power of global science.

The Department of Biological Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo was one of 13 awardees chosen for Instrumental Access 2019 from a pool of 46 applications received from 22 countries through a rigorous and competitive selection process. Each applicant outlined the ways that an infusion of modern scientific equipment would remove barriers to research and education at their institution—paving the way for them to participate as equals in the global community of scientists and to use the power of science to solve problems for their communities.

The 2019 Instrumental Access awardees specialize in disciplines from across the biological and chemical sciences. Their diverse research interests include infectious diseases, personalized medicine, food safety, biofuels, communication disorders, water quality, herbal medicines, agriculture, and textile manufacturing.

Instrumental Access makes high-quality laboratory equipment and supplies available to university departments and research institutes in developing countries. It is the flagship program of Seeding Labs, a US-based nonprofit organization working to empower every scientist to transform the world.

The Head of the Department of Biological Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, Dr. Oyetunde Oyeyemi said the equipment will contribute immensely to innovative research in Nigeria.

“Many in our faculty are aspiring young researchers who collaborate with Northern partners for access to state-of-the-art facilities to enable them carry out innovative studies. Equipment support will bridge this barrier and allow for institutional participation and innovation that will attract more international funds to do research in Nigeria for Nigerians", Oyeyemi stated.

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, Prof. Friday Okonofua, FAS, FAAS said the award is a great milestone for the University.

“This is a great achievement, given that only three institutions in West Africa got this award, namely: University of Lagos, University of Ghana and University of Medical Sciences, Ondo established barely four years ago”, he said.

He affirmed that the equipment will help the institution attain its mission to help reduce the burden of diseases through high quality health care for under-served populations.

To date, Seeding Labs has shipped 216 tons of lab equipment to 70 institutions in 34 countries around the world.

Temitope Oluwatayo

Public Relations Department,

University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo.