Partnerships to conduct biomedical research in Malawi

Conducting complex biomedical research requires robust infrastructure and global collaboration. Extensive research on bio-medics is being conducted all over the world, and sharing the generated knowledge between institutions can aid further research development. However, the current regulations and guidelines in Malawi do not allow indefinite storage and reuse of any biological samples or data for future use.

To understand the reasons for this and to find ways in which institutions in Malawi and departments within the University of Oxford can work together, Musaiwale Kamfose, Clinical Researcher at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences visited Mphatso Phiri from the Liverpool Wellcome Trust in Blantyre, Malawi.

Mphatso introduced Musa to other colleagues at the Liverpool Wellcome Trust in Blantyre, including Dr Lucinda Manda-Taylor from Malawi College of Medicine. They have collaborated to establish a network of researchers who can mutually work together to aid research.

Musa also used his time in Malawi to engage with over 350 students and early career researchers in Malawi. He held three workshops in Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe. Along with other Oxford alumni in Malawi, they answered questions on postgraduate applications to Oxford, scholarships and general life in Oxford.