Videos

In coordination with the launch of the DS-I Africa program, NIH is hosting a Virtual Symposium Platform, which offers a series of interactive panel discussions featuring information on the funding opportunity announcements, cross-cutting topics of importance to the initiative, and relevant scientific issues. In this session, attendees participated in an interactive session focusing on the importance of partnerships for Data Science and Health research in Africa.

Moderator:
Patricia Brennan, Director, National Library of Medicine, NIH

Panelists:
- Brian Gitta, CEO and Co-Founder, Matibabu and Think IT
- Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director, African Population and Health Research Center
- Julie Makani, Associate Professor in the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
- Beatrice Murage, Senior Scientist, Philips
- Aisha Walcott-Bryant, Research Manager at IBM Research Africa

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

In coordination with the launch of the DS-I Africa program, NIH is hosting a Virtual Symposium Platform, which offers a series of interactive panel discussions featuring information on the funding opportunity announcements, cross-cutting topics of importance to the initiative, and relevant scientific issues. In this session, attendees participated in an interactive funding opportunities Q&A panel featuring DS-I Africa program officers.

Panelists:

- Laura Povlich, Program Officer, Fogarty International Center (FIC), NIH
- Brad Newsome, Program Officer, FIC, NIH
- Jay Churchill, Health Scientist Administrator, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), NIH
- Tiffani Lash, Program Director of Division of Health Informatics Technologies (Informatics) at National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), NIH
- Ishwar Chandramouliswaran, Program Director of Office of Data Science and Emerging Technologies at National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

This panel consists of data science and innovation educators who discuss their experiences training data science leaders in Africa, including the challenges, opportunities, and impact of training efforts. Speakers discuss unique training approaches for promoting diversity, open science, collaboration, interdisciplinarity and entrepreneurship in data science communities.

Panelists:

- Mahadia Tunga, Co-founder and Director of Capacity Development, Tanzania dLab
- Ignace Kabano, Head of Training, African Center of Excellence in Data Science, University of Rwanda
- Amel Ghoulia, Scientific Community Coordinator. Exaptive for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Jeremie Zoueu, National Polytechnic Institute, Côte d’Ivoire; African Spectral Imaging Network (AFSIN)

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

In this panel, speakers share their perspectives on the evolving landscape of multi-faceted digital technology and the importance of integrating an ELSI framework in conducting data science research. Speakers offer examples of specific topics that can, and should be considered in the design of data science research projects to ensure the ethical, legal, and social implications of this research are thoughtfully considered and incorporated at all phases of the research endeavor.

Panelists:

- Clement Adebamowo, Professor, University of Maryland Medical School
- Josephine Agyeman-Duah, Doctoral Researcher, University of Oxford
- Rosemary Musesengwa, Senior Researcher, University of Oxford

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

This panel brings together relevant speakers and panelists to discuss biomedical data ecosystems, frameworks, best practices and lessons learned to establish the next-generation platform infrastructure to make data more discoverable and accessible, and foster a collaborative research community. Expert presenters and panelists from academia, industry, non-profit and governmental sectors discuss technology solutions as well as the importance to partnerships.

Panelists:

- Nicola Mulder, Professor and head of the Computational Biology, University of Cape Town; PI of H3ABioNet
- Benedict Paten, Associate Professor, Biomolecular Engineering, UCSC
- Geoffrey Siwo, Research Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame
- Russ Taylor, Professor of Astronomy, University of Cape Town
- Susan Veldsman, Director, Scholarly Publishing Unit, Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

Across Africa, innovators and entrepreneurs are transforming a broad range of sectors, including health. This video features emerging innovators and entrepreneurs who are utilizing new approaches, technologies, business models, and partnerships to dramatically change how health solutions are developed and delivered.

Featured speakers:
- Roger Glass, Director, Fogarty International Center, NIH
- Andrea (Andi) Gobin, Director of Invention Education & Lecturer, Rice 360 Institute for Global Health, Rice University
- Gregory Gamula, Dean of Engineering, University of Malawi, The Polytechnic
- Theresa Mkandawire, Associate Professor, University of Malawi, The Polytechnic
- Robert Karanja, CEO, Villgro Kenya
- Fadhili Chacha Marwa, CEO, Enzi Health

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

Dr. Julie Makani presents cutting edge approaches to harness data science to conduct research and improve health in sickle cell disease in Africa from the perspective of an academic researcher in Tanzania. She emphasizes the role of genomics and the importance of partnerships in health, education, and research as well as the need for equity in health research.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

The webinar will review the purpose and objectives of the Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), application process, grants management advice, and tips from NIH grant recipients. All prospective applicants are invited to participate.

This webinar is part of a larger DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform, an interactive, online resource which includes a collection of networking tools and online events that engage participants in robust scientific discussions and facilitate networking across disciplines, sectors, and geographies. The platform includes keynote videos, interactive panels with leading data scientists, and a Virtual Forum that enables participants to interact with each other.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

Dr. Aisha Walcott-Bryant shares examples of IBM Research’s work in Africa leveraging artificial intelligence and data science to address major health challenges in Africa and their approach to local collaboration and partnerships. Specifically, she describes work to support decision-making related to malaria, generate interventions to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and improve maternal, newborn, and child health.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

The SPARC Plug vlog’s Tools & Tech video series features SPARC-funded research tools and technologies. In our fourth video, learn about specialized electrodes that can detect, monitor, and modulate peripheral nerve activity. These tools and techniques could potentially be used in the future to manipulate peripheral nerves and their electrical signals to help improve treatment of diseases and conditions such as hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, type II diabetes, and more. Learn more about SPARC-funded research projects at https://go.usa.gov/xyFmD

The SPARC program is a trans-NIH effort managed by the NIH Common Fund in the Office of the Director and supported by NIBIB, NINDS, NIDDK, and NCATS. Learn more about the NIH SPARC program at https://go.usa.gov/xyFmQ

Dr. David Moinina Sengeh – himself an accomplished data science researcher – shares perspectives on the potential of data science as a government leader. Minister Sengeh describes how Sierra Leone is harnessing the power of data for evidence-informed policy-making in response to COVID-19 and other health challenges and comments on how researchers can best contribute to this growing field.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata...

Brian Gitta is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and innovator from Uganda whose desire is accelerating continental development by engaging directly with entrepreneurs across African countries and beyond. In his talk, he shares how we can use data to build stronger health infrastructures within Africa. Using matibabu – the startup he helped build around a point-of-care malaria diagnostic device – as a case study, Mr. Gitta also describes the challenges and opportunities for data science for health in Africa from the perspective of an entrepreneur.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadatasymposium

Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi shares her perspectives on evidence-based policy making based on her work at the Africa Population and Health Research Center, a non-profit think tank generating evidence to drive policy action to improve the health and wellbeing of African people. Dr. Kyobutungi discusses the importance of African leadership and the need to strengthen the data ecosystem across the continent.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadatasymposium

Dr. Beatrice Murage shares an overview of Philips’ healthcare research work in Africa and the importance of collaboration between public sector, academia, private sector, and other stakeholders to capitalize on the potential of data science. Dr. Murage emphasizes the importance of African leadership and talent in building an ecosystem that delivers access to quality healthcare across the continent.

Read more on how Philips is expanding access to care: https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/sustainability/access-to-care.html#_read.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

Learn more about the DS-I Africa Virtual Symposium Platform: https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadatasymposium

In his welcoming address, Dr. Collins describes the great potential of rapid advances in data science for improving health in Africa and the vision for how the NIH’s new Common Fund initiative, "Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery & Innovation in Africa (DS-I Africa)," will support African leadership and global partnerships for research and training in this exciting field.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/AfricaData

In this webinar, NIH staff explain the application process for the NIH Director's New Innovator Award and answer attendee questions.

An audio-described version of this video is available here: https://youtu.be/tz-NJgxDMO8.

The New Innovator Award is part of the NIH Common Fund's High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, and supports exceptionally creative early career investigators who propose innovative, high-impact projects in the biomedical, behavioral or social sciences within the NIH mission.

Learn more about the program and any current funding opportunities: https://commonfund.nih.gov/newinnovator