Minister Visit

The Honorable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Health, Senator. Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora paid a working visit to NIMR on Monday 8 March 2020 to commission the Institute’s newly acquired DNBSEQ-G50 (Next Generation Sequencer (NGS)).

Ventilators donated to FMoH

Director General/CEO – NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako (first from right) presented 60 Units of Non-invasive Ventilators to Federal Ministry of Health on 31st August 2020 as part of the institute’s contribution to the fight against COVID -19 pandemic.

The item was received by Dr. Baba Ahmed and his colleague on behalf of the Ministry.

NIMR Biotech Total RNA Purification Kit

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research has launched the country’s first set of local Ribonucleic Acid purification kits to help expand the nation’s capacity to test for COVID-19.

In his address at the official commissioning of the kits on Tuesday Tuesday 30th June 2020, Director-General of NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako explained that the local RNA kits would address the perennial problem of test kits shortage in the country and help ramp up daily testing capacity for COVID-19.

“The idea of producing the local Ribonucleic Acid purification kits was conceived after we noticed how its scarcity was delaying tests and other backlogs of samples,”

The product was christened NIMR Biotech Total RNA purification Kit.

INTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT:Pharmacoepidemiology scholars for the Pharmacoepidemiology NIH/Fogarty K43 Project

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill in the positions of Pharmacoepidemiology scholars for the Pharmacoepidemiology NIH/Fogarty K43 Project.

The Pharmacoepidemiology NIH/Fogarty K43 Project is a capacity development grant funded by the Fogarty International Centers (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The supplement is to mentor two Pharmacy graduates’ students in Pharmacoepidemiology research, focused on women with HIV. The goal of the research is to understand the relationship between low level viremia (LLV) and pregnancy on antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes in West Africa.

Specific objectives are

  1. To assess prevalence and predicators of LLV among pregnant women with HIV in West Africa using the International Epidemiology Database to evaluate AIDS (IeDEA, West Africa.
  2. To assess the association between maternal LLV and infant HIV status at ≤18 months using NIMR PMTCT and Exposed Infant Database.

Pharmacoepidemiology Scholar

Prospective Pharmacoepidemiology Scholar must submit a grant application which will be assessed, and the best scoring application will be awarded the traineeship.

Eligibility Requirements

The Candidate Must:

  • Currently be registered for MSc in Public Health (MPH) at Universities within Lagos and environs
  • A post NYSC graduate of Pharmacy
  • Sign mentorship agreement with the Principal Investigator of the Institute Pharmacoepidemiology (K43) Project
  • Be interested in HIV research focused on women
  • Have basic skills in Database analysis
  • Submit a personal statement
  • Submit a curriculum Vitae/Bio sketch (NIH Format)
  • Submit Synopsis of MPH or MSc research proposal (Approved by the Institution which includes at least one of the Pharmacoepidemiology (K43) Project objectives
  • Submit a capacity development plan
  • Submit evidence of enrollment at eligibility Institution and
  • Provide a letter of support from current Head of Department at the School

Grant will be awarded on a competitive peer reviewed basis and potential to continue research focused on women’s health after the program.

Successful candidates will receive tuition fee reimbursement up to one million naira (₦1,000,000) and a laptop computer each.

Expected Output for Traineeship:

  1. An accepted local or regional conference abstract based on project objectives
  2. A manuscript accepted for publication from the MPH or MSC Pharmacoepidemiology Project
  3. Completed MPH or MSC Pharmacoepidemiology Project

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their softcopy application to nimrpharmacoproject@gmail.com and hard copy in a sealed envelope to the address below;

The Director General/CEO

Nigerian Institute of Medial Research

6 Edmund Crescent

Off Murtala Muhammed Way

Yaba, Lagos.

Note the following please

  • Type set application A4 pages using Times Romans font size 12
  • Personal Statement (1-2 pages)
  • Capacity development plan which shows how candidates will combine school activities with mentored research (1-2 pages)
  • Curriculum vitae/Bio sketch NHI format (2-5) pages
  • Research proposal (10-20 pages) which should be retrospective data analysis, in the following format
  • Background
  • Rational and objective
  • Literature Review
  • Methodology
  • Data source study site – (IeDEA or NIMR)
  • Plan for Data analysis
  • Expected Outcome
  • References (Vancouver Style and not more than 20
  • Timeline
  • Budget and justification

This should reach the Director-General’s office not later than four (4) weeks from the date of this publication. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by 30th December, 2024, Notification of award by 20th January, 2025 and commencement of scholarship by 3rd February, 2025. The duration of the scholarship is one academic year.

Mr. J. O. Oyibo

Principal Administrative Officer

for: Director-General

INTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT: Fellowship positions for the Mind the Gap (MTG) Project

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill in Fellowship positions for the Mind the Gap (MTG) Project.  

The MTG Fellowship program aims to enhance individual capacity in entomological surveillance, focusing on early career entomologist within National Malaria or State Programs/ Public Health Research Institutes (PHRIs) in Nigeria.

Fellows will be supported to complete their PhD or MSc in Public Health/Medical Entomology at an accredited University in the Country.

Qualifications

The Candidate is expected to possess a Master’s degree in either Biological Sciences, Zoology, Public Health or its equivalent.

Experience with National or State Programs will be an added advantage.

Application Guidelines

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. A most updated CV which must include all the elements provided in attached Annex I template. Please note that you are not under any obligation to use the exact template just ensure the elements required are included. However, you are welcome to use the template exactly as it is if you so wish.

  • Motivation Letter
  • You are to provide a brief motivation letter (1to 2 pages). Refer to the issues stated in attached Annex II to help ensure you address all relevant aspects to the fellowship program. You are welcome to include additional elements you might think are important to highlight.

Applications should be forwarded to

The Director General/CEO

Nigerian Institute of Medical Research

6 Edmund Crescent

Off Murtala Muhammed Way

Yaba, Lagos.

This should reach the Director-General’s office not later than four (4) weeks from the date of this publication. Note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted please.

Mrs. N. I. Akintan

Chief Administrative Officer

for: Director-General

Visit to NIMR Asaba Outstation

The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, his management and research team paid a visit to the Delta State Ministry of Health, the office of the Secretary to the Delta State government while on a visit to NIMR outstation at Asaba on the 8th November, 2024.

The research dissemination meeting with the Delta State Ministry of Health and other health institutions was on enhancing One – Health Surveillance and control of vector-borne diseases related to climate change in West Africa Region.

The meeting was attended by the NIMR team led by Prof. J.O Obafunwa, DG-NIMR, Mr N.N Bitrus, Director of Administration, Prof. R.A Audu , Deputy-Director General and team lead for the One Health Research Consortium (Senegal and Nigeria Team), Dr Adedapo Adeogun, Chief Research Scientist, the Delta State Ministry of Health team, comprising of Dr Christian Tetsola, Director of Public Health Delta State MOH, Executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board , Dr (Mrs) Mildred Igumbor, Delta State Epidemiologist, Prof. Ehi Igumbor, a member of the Research team, Dr Reagan, WHO representative, Mr Obinna, NIMR Asaba outstation administrator, and others.

The team also visited the office of the Secretary to the State Government of Delta State and was received by the SSG, Mr Kingsley Emu.

NIMR-WAAW 2024 Webinar

The NIMR AMR Research Committee in commemoration of the WAAW 2024, presents webinar titled:

Educate, AdvocaTe and Act now to fight the rise of Resistance

Embracing Technology in Lab Diagnostics is Essential – Prof. Audu

Prof. Rosemary Audu, Director of Research-NIMR and Professor of Medical Virology-Lead City University
delivered her inaugural lecture titled “Challenges and Prospects of Laboratory Diagnostics in Africa: Disentangling the Puzzle” at Lead City University today, 24th Oct 2024.

The management and staff of NIMR congratulate her on the successful delivery of her lecture.