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THE CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator Rasha Kelej and Scientific Committee felicitated 7 winners of Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researchers of MARS Awards 2022 via videoconference for their valuable research work and contribution to empowering women and youth in STEM; MARS Awards Cremony was also attended by 11 African Ministers of Health, Science and Technology, Education, Information & Technology, New Technology, Social Health, Gender and Promotion of Women; Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS Awards 2023 to empower Women and Youth in STEM in Africa with special focus on scientific research in Women Health and Infertility & Reproductive Health; the 2033 MARS Awards will emphasize the collaboration between Merck Foundation and Internationale Federation of Fertility Societies -IFFS, Africa Reproductive Care Society – ARCS, Manipal University and African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission; watch the Livestream of the MARS 2023 Awards Ceremony:
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS 2022 Awards Ceremony, in partnership with the African Union (Scientific Technical Research Commission), through VideoConference to felicitate the 7 winners from 7 African countries, for their valuable research work and contribution to empowering women and youth in STEM with special focus on Scientific Research in Infectious Diseases and Cancer Research.
Senator Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit -MARS expressed, “Like every year since 2016, I am extremely proud of all 7 winners who have been recognized under the two categories of ‘Best African Women Researchers Awards’ and ‘Best Young African Researcher Awards’ for their valuable contribution in research, especially by African Female Researchers who are under presented in this field, as we all know.
Through Merck Foundation African Research Summit – MARS Awards, we aim to empower African young researchers and of course to empower and encourage African women researchers through advancing their research capacity and promote their contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
The winners of ‘Best African Women Researchers Awards’ and ‘Best Young African Researcher Awards’ will be enrolled into research training at a premier research institute in India.”
The award ceremony was also attended by Ahmed Hamdy, Executive Director, African Union – Scientific, Technical and Research Commission; Prof. Andrew Kambugu, The Sande-McKinnell Executive Director at the Infectious Diseases Institute, IDI, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda; Dr. Edgar Mocanu, President of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), Past Chairperson of The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and Reproductive Medicine, Endocrinology, and Infertility (REI) Committee, Ireland; Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, OFR, President of African Reproductive Care Society (ARCS), President of The Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria & Secretary General of International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), Nigeria and Prof. Satish Kumar Adiga, Head, Department of Reproductive Science and Coordinator at Fertility Preservation Centre, Kasturba Medical College, India.
Dr. Ahmed Hamdy, Executive Director, African Union – Scientific, Technical and Research Commission, emphasized, “I congratulate all the worthy winners of MARS Awards 2022. This is a very valuable platform for African women and young African researchers who are engaged and interested in health research”.
The African Ministers who attended the MARS 2022 Ceremony were:
1. Hon. Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health, The Gambia
2. Hon. Mrs. Imelde SABUSHIMIKE, Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender, Burundi
3. Hon. Mme ALLAHOURY AMINATA ZOURKALEINI, Minister for the Promotion of Women, Niger
4. Hon. Prof. IBRAHIM NATATOU, Minister of National Education, Niger
5. Hon. HASSANE BARAZE MOUSSA, Minister of Post and New Technologies, Niger
6. Hon. Mahamadou Laoualy Dan Dano, Minister of Communication, Niger
7. Hon. Dr. Constatino G. D. N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe
8. Hon. Prof Amon Murwira, Minister of Higher Education, Zimbabwe
9. Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Minister of Health, Malawi
10. Hon Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Malawi
11. Hon Minister of Education, Malawi
Hon. Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health, The Gambia expressed, “I appreciate the efforts of Merck Foundation and feel that MARS Awards are innovational in bringing together young scientist to bring out their potentials in the field of science.”
Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS 2022 had a scientific support from African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Graduate School.
The MARS 2022 Award Winners were:
Winners of “MARS Best African Women Researchers Awards”
- Gladys Kaba, Ghana
TOPIC: Diversity of Cervicovaginal Human Papillomavirus Genotypes and Naturally Occurring E6/E7 DNA Sequence Polymorphism: A Study Among Selected Women with Clinical Suspicion of Cancer of the Cervix or Diagnosed Cervix Cancer/Precancer Cases in Ghana
- Amaya Jobin Habila, Nigeria
TOPIC: Evaluation Of The Immunoprotective Potential Of Trypanosoma Brucei Glycerol Kinase In Mice
- Shingirai Chiwambutsa, South Africa
TOPIC: Effect of genetic polymorphism and co-medications on tamoxifen metabolising enzymes and plasma levels of endoxifen in black South African breast cancer patients
- Ededia Firdawoke, Ethiopia
TOPIC: HPV in women with invasive cervical cancer lesion and cancer: the use of urine as an adjunct specimen
Winners of “MARS Best Young African Researchers Awards”
- Abu Bakarr Kamara, Sierra Leone
TOPIC: Safety and immunogenicity of an Ad26.ZEBOV booster dose among children previously vaccinated with the two-dose heterologous Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine regimen
- Fongang Che Landis, Cameroon
TOPIC: Effectiveness of Mhealth (Text Messages) in Enhancing Cervical Cancer Screening uptake among Women in the North-West Region of Cameroon
- Eze Ajaegbu, Nigeria
TOPIC: Anticancer agents from Millettia aboensis root
Fongang Che Landis, Winner of ‘Best Young African Researcher Awards’ category from Cameroon stated, “I feel it is a high ranking, prestigious award that enhances research in Africa and creates opportunities for African researchers as it will go further to enhance my visibility, knowledge level, network and professional growth in all spheres of life.”
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej shared, “I am also excited to announce the Call for Applications for our prestigious Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards 2023. ‘The Role of Scientific Research in Women Health and Infertility & Reproductive Health’ will be the key focus this year. Eventually, through these awards, Merck Foundation aims to empower Women Researchers and young African researchers to strengthen the important role research plays towards contributing to public health thus improving healthcare capacity with special focus on women health, infertility and reproductive health in Africa.”
MARS 2023 of Merck Foundation will be in partnership with African Reproductive Care Society (ARCS), International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and African Union Scientific Technical Research Commission.
MARS aims to contribute to building research capacity in the African research community.
Details for MARS AWARDS 2023
Abstracts are invited from final year PhD students, young investigators involved in research and Medical Doctors in Postgraduate Medical Fellowship program related to either of the following topics:
1) Women Health
2) Infertility and Reproductive Health
Applicants should be primarily based at African Research Institutes and Universities, although collaboration within Africa as well as outside is also welcome.
Last Date of Submission:
Applications can be submitted till 30th June 2023
A.I
Tags: Ahmed Hamdy AU Dr. Edgar Mocanu MERCK Foundation Prof. Andrew Kambugu Prof. Oladapo Ashiru
