A lecturer at Yobe State University, Mahmoud Bukar Maina, has secured a Wellcome Trust Career Development Award grant to conduct research on dementia.

Announcing the development in a post on his Facebook page, Mr Maina who is a neuroscientist disclosed that the grant would support his research group in establishing Africa’s first open-access induced pluripotent stem cell biobank.

He explained the biobank will enable his team to understand the causes or influences on the development of a brain disorder called Alzheimer’s disease in African populations.

Expressing his excitement on securing the grant, Mr Maina added the “grant is not just a personal achievement; it is a significant step forward for science in Africa.”

“I am honoured to share a major milestone in my journey as a neuroscientist: I have been awarded a Wellcome Trust Career Development Award, one of the world’s most competitive and prestigious research fellowships in biomedical science.

“In the neuroscience field, I am both humbled and proud to be one of only two African neuroscientists to have ever received this award, the other being based in South Africa.

“Over the next eight years, this award will support my research group in establishing Africa’s first open-access induced pluripotent stem cell biobank.

“The biobank will enable us to understand what causes or influences the development of a brain disorder called Alzheimer’s disease in African populations. This grant is not just a personal achievement; it is a significant step forward for science in Africa.

Stressing the importance of the research, Mr Maina said: ”Most of what we know about the majority of brain diseases today, e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, comes from research conducted in Europe and North America. Genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors vary among different populations, which means that the causes and risk factors of certain diseases can also differ.

“Consequently, treatments developed in other regions may not have the same effectiveness for Africans. This project aims to address this issue by ensuring that African lives and experiences are included in the global fight against brain diseases.

“Our pioneering work and biobank have the potential to enhance the global understanding and treatment of various human diseases, not just Alzheimer’s. The stem cells we develop can be transformed into any human cell type, such as liver or kidney cells, allowing us or other researchers to investigate and find treatments for a wide range of conditions affecting different organs.

Why return to Nigeria?

“The United Kingdom, where I have spent most of my adult life, which I call home as a British citizen, and where my PhD and postdoctoral research were generously funded, has offered me world-class training, opened many doors, and provided opportunities that could have made staying to lead this Wellcome Trust-funded research an easier choice. The United Kingdom offers fewer operational challenges and greater access to resources.

“But I have made the decision to transition back to Nigeria to lead this work. I chose this path because I believe Nigeria needs me more. My goal is to help build the kind of research ecosystem in Nigeria that once attracted me to the United Kingdom.

“Through Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre, the research centre I founded in Yobe State, we have begun laying that foundation, thanks to the incredible support of the Yobe State Government and the enabling environment provided by Yobe State University.

“This Wellcome Trust grant will help us expand and consolidate the progress made at the centre and deepen its reach.