The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has joined a major international research effort to transform sickle cell disease (SCD) care across sub-Saharan Africa, following the award of a £5 million grant as part of the Patient-Centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) initiative.
The funding, led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), will support a patient-first approach to SCD research that foregrounds the lived realities of patients while simultaneously building the capacity of African research institutions to lead on healthcare innovation.
The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday at a workshop organised by UniAbuja’s Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Research and Training (CESTRA), brings together partners from Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, the UK and the US. It is considered a landmark step in shifting the research agenda from traditionally Western-led studies to African-driven, locally grounded solutions.
Director of CESTRA and Co-Principal Investigator of the project, Professor Obiageli Nnodu, described the grant as a “turning point for African-led research”, noting that it signals renewed confidence in the continent’s ability to deliver high-quality science.
“This is about more than just funding,” she said. “It is an investment in Africa’s capacity to lead meaningful, high-impact research that can inform public policy.”
Professor Nnodu also emphasised the need for continued investment in capacity building, adding that while UniAbuja had made progress in attracting international funding, researchers still required support to navigate global research standards.
“We are focused on empowering researchers with the tools, skills, and infrastructure they need to deliver results,” she said.
The PACTS consortium is spearheaded by Professor Imelda Bates of LSTM, who said the approach deliberately places patients at the centre of the research process. “We are speaking with patients directly, understanding their struggles, and using that insight to inform our science,” she explained.
“This is a fundamentally different way of working—one that acknowledges that patients are the true experts of their condition.”
Nigeria’s central role in the project reflects the country’s status as home to the highest number of people living with SCD globally. The disease affects millions of Nigerians, many of whom face structural barriers to care ranging from high transport costs and long clinic queues to limited access to trained specialists.
“Sickle cell is not just a health issue—it is a national imperative,” Professor Bates noted. “Without addressing the socioeconomic barriers that patients face, we risk leaving the most vulnerable behind.”
Preliminary research carried out under the PACTS initiative has already identified several challenges confronting patients and their families, including overreliance on traditional medicine, poor access to healthcare, and the disruption of schooling and livelihoods.
Speaking on behalf of UniAbuja’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patricia Lar, Professor Rhoda Mundi welcomed the project as a vital contribution to the university’s broader research agenda. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our strategic vision to use research as a driver of change,” she said. “We are proud to contribute to a project that prioritises local solutions for local problems.”
