A high-powered Chinese scientific delegation led by renowned virologist and former Director-General of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Professor George Gao has visited the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to explore opportunities for strategic collaboration in infectious disease research, vaccine development, and capacity building.
The delegation, which included experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China CDC, Peking University, and Shanghai Junshi Biosciences, currently on a visit to some Nigerian health institutions, held extensive discussions with NIMR’s leadership and researchers during the visit to the Institute’s headquarters in Lagos, over the weekend.
Speaking during the meeting, Prof. Gao said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen scientific partnerships with African institutions, particularly in areas of shared public health concern.
“We are here looking for future collaborations in Nigeria,” he said. “I have worked extensively in Africa and understand the public health landscape. There is a strong basis for partnership.”
Gao, who played a frontline role in virus discovery and vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic, noted that global health threats such as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases require cross-border scientific cooperation.
A high-powered Chinese scientific delegation led by renowned virologist and former Director-General of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Professor George Gao has visited the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to explore opportunities for strategic collaboration in infectious disease research, vaccine development, and capacity building.
The delegation, which included experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China CDC, Peking University, and Shanghai Junshi Biosciences, currently on a visit to some Nigerian health institutions, held extensive discussions with NIMR’s leadership and researchers during the visit to the Institute’s headquarters in Lagos, on Saturday March 28.
Speaking during the meeting, Prof. Gao said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen scientific partnerships with African institutions, particularly in areas of shared public health concern.
“We are here looking for future collaborations in Nigeria,” he said. “I have worked extensively in Africa and understand the public health landscape. There is a strong basis for partnership.”
Gao, who played a frontline role in virus discovery and vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic, noted that global health threats such as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases require cross-border scientific cooperation.
He also highlighted existing professional relationships with Nigerian public health leaders, underscoring a history of engagement between Chinese and Nigerian health institutions.
The visit featured technical presentations from both sides, including cutting-edge research on next-generation vaccine development.
A key presentation by Professor Han Wang of Peking University focused on advances in Mpox vaccine development, with an emphasis on creating safer, more effective, and affordable vaccines tailored for regions with the highest disease burden, including Africa.
According to Wang, current vaccine options face significant limitations, including safety concerns, reduced effectiveness, and high costs—factors that restrict access across many African countries.
“Africa is where vaccines are most needed, yet affordability remains a major barrier,” she noted, citing costs of over $60 per dose for some existing vaccines.
She explained that her team is developing a next-generation, cost-effective vaccine using a novel “chimeric immunogen” approach, designed to improve immune response while simplifying production.
Preliminary findings, she said, show significantly higher immune response levels compared to traditional vaccines, alongside improved safety and potential for broader accessibility.
The research, which is being advanced in collaboration with industry partners, is expected to contribute to global efforts to control Mpox and similar viral outbreaks.
The visit also created a platform for both institutions to explore collaboration in areas such as:
• Vaccine research and development
• Genomic sequencing
• Clinical trials
• Technology transfer and training
• Rapid response to emerging infectious diseases.
Director-General of NIMR, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed the Institute’s readiness to partner with global institutions to strengthen Nigeria’s research and innovation capacity.
He emphasized the importance of collaborations that not only advance science but also build local capacity and address health challenges specific to the African context.
Obafunwa said while NIMR has built significant research capacity over the years, there is an urgent need for strategic partnerships that will not only support research but will focus on transition from research to full-scale production, particularly in vaccines and diagnostics.
“We have facilities we can start with, but we are still in the middle of developing full vaccine production capacity,” he said. “With the right collaboration, we can move from potential to impact.”
He reaffirmed NIMR’s commitment to expanding collaborations with both local and international institutions, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and universities within Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom, stressing that a bulk of the institute’s work is sourced through international partners.
“But of course, for me, I observe that some of the things that foreign donors/grantors focus on are things that are peculiar to their environment, as opposed to things that are related to our environment. I’m hoping that this relationship (with the visitors) can modify that approach. Of course, there are things that cut across boundaries. But again, we want to possibly concentrate more on things that are common in our environment,” he remarked.
The NIMR boss also highlighted the Institute’s growing capabilities in molecular biology and genomics but stressed the need for advanced technologies and training to reduce dependence on foreign laboratories.
“It is time we looked inward rather than depending on other countries for whole human genome sequencing,” he said, calling for support in technology transfer and capacity building for Nigerian scientists.
Obafunwa, however, pointed to infrastructure and funding gaps as key challenges limiting optimal performance. He disclosed that plans for a centralized, fully equipped research laboratory are yet to materialize due to funding constraints, resulting in fragmented facilities across departments.
The engagement marks a significant step in deepening Nigeria–China cooperation in medical research, with both sides expressing optimism about translating discussions into tangible, high-impact projects.
The Chinese delegates, led by Prof. George Gao, include Dr. Hong Yang also from China CDC; Prof. Haitao Hu, Prof. Jiawxwu Qi, Prof. Likui Wong from the Chinese Academy Of Science; Prof. Ham Wang from Peking University, Zhuobing Zhang and Siyuan Wang from Shanghai Junshi Bioscience Company, Siu Sun of Carloha Nigeria, Rainy Farid Folake, CEO AFKMED Biotech Nigeria Limited and Adelowo Emmanuel, also of AFKMED,
The NIMR team led by the DG, Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa include: The Head of NIMR Clinical Trial Centre, Dr. David Oladele, Head, Center for Human Virology Dr. Azuka Okwuraiwe, Head Biochemistry and Nutrition Department, Dr. Olusola Ajibaye, Manager, NIMR Biobank Dr. Toyosi Raheem; Dr Victor Akinseye of the Tuberculosis laboratory, Dr. Chika Onwuamah Head, Central Research Laboratory and Mr. Sam Eferaro, the Media Consultant.
