25 years Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR)

The Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) in Ghana is celebrating its 25th anniversary and its successful infection research with a ceremony and a scientific symposium. Scientists from the German Center of Infection Research (DZIF) congratulated on site; the KCCR is one of DZIF´s African Partner Institutions from the very beginning.

For two days, from 29-30 November, the KCCR celebrates 25 years of successful research on infectious diseases: in the tropics, on the campus of the KNUST University in Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city. At the end of 1997, the Republic of Ghana and the Hamburg Senate had concluded a state treaty that assures privileged conditions for international scientific projects in the country. Subsequently, the KCCR has developed into a major, internationally recognised research institute. It has played a central role in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana.

The Chairman of the BNITM Board, Prof. Jürgen May: “At BNITM, the KCCR is particularly close to our hearts. Over the past 25 years, researchers from Ghana and Germany have succeeded in building a leading research institute in Africa, with curiosity, ambition and high personal commitment. We can only master the challenges for global health together, through equal research on an equal footing. We look forward to continuing our sustained collaboration with KCCR in this spirit." The BNITM is a member institution of the German Center for Infection Research and it is significantly involved in numerous joint research projects in Ghana.

Among the research successes of the KCCR are studies on the spread, genetics and immune response in malaria, the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistances, the treatment of river blindness, research into the genetic causes of a form of hereditary hearing loss, and the treatment of tuberculosis, HIV and neglected tropical diseases. Currently, research is being conducted on the major topics of global health and One Health, as well as on the epidemiology, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. The focus is on malaria, SARS-CoV-2 and tropical skin diseases in addition to antimicrobial resistances. During the coronavirus pandemic, the institute became one of Ghana's central national diagnostic facilities.

The Scientific Director of the KCCR, Prof. Richard Odame Phillips: "The pandemic was an unprecedented challenge also for the KCCR. After all, our research into One Health and coronaviruses paid off. And 25 years of collaborative research paid off. Pathogens do not stop at borders. We can only achieve global health together. This is the spirit in which we want to continue our work."

The KCCR now has more than 300 staff, 13 research groups and numerous other research projects. It cooperates with 116 partner institutions worldwide. The number of publications increased from one to three annually in the founding years to 78 in 2022. Further growth is anticipated.

Source: BNITM press release

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