The University of Lagos (UNILAG), College of Medicine, has inaugurated the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science (CCTRIS), to further enhance the institution’s capacity in medical research.
Speaking during the event on Wednesday, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, said that Nigeria and Africa at large had yet to make a giant stride in clinical trials.
Ogunsola, represented by Prof. Lucian Chukwu, said the establishment of the centre which came at the right time was a good platform to enhance research works in clinical trials and Implementation science.
She said:” The area of clinical trials in the African continent has not been given its pride of place despite the fact that we control a significant part of the global population.
“We are very much under-represented in clinical trials in the world and we only have about 2.5 per cent of clinical trials going on in Africa.
“The official launch of the CCTRIS is coming at the right time and we are happy that the institution is blazing the trail in ensuring that we have this centre.
“The implementation science of CCTRIS would assist in bridging the gap between theory and practical”.
The vice-chancellor commended collaborators and charged the CCTRIS director to ensure that the centre becomes a certified centre in clinical research.
“We appreciate the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, University of Leads, the University of Nottingham Clinical Trial Unit, World Health Organisation, and the Ministry of Health for the collaboration,” he said.
Speaking also, the Provost of the College of Medicine, UNILAG, Prof. David Oke, said that medical research plays a pivotal role in positioning the institution to attain it’s position at the centre global institutions.
Oke, represented by Prof. Osaretin Ebuehi, the Deputy Provost, said CCTRIS would focus on developing and facilitating innovative research and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.
“Our objective as the foremost university in the country is to be a world class research intensive medical college to deliver teaching and facilitate learning of the highest quality and to play a leading role in health.
“It is justifiable to have a world class centre like CCTRIS in this institution and it will be a leading in the area of clinical trials,” he said.
He commended the leadership of the CCTRIS and the team for making the centre a reality.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Bosede Afolabi, the Director of the Centre said CCTRIS aimed to become a leading institution in the field of clinical trials and implementation.
Afolabi said the goal of the centre was also to develop capacity with postgraduate courses and conduct multi-disciplinary research.
“This centre aim to become a leading in the field of clinical trials and implementation science with a focus on developing and validating innovative research.
“We will also provide administrative and project management upper to the clinical research community in UNILAG, as well as other research institutes and Universities across the country,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five presentations on ongoing CCTRIS projects were presented at the event. (NAN)
