Prof. Gyapong Receives Delegation from IDRC/CIHR

The meeting in session

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), Prof. John Gyapong has received a high profile delegation from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). The delegation is visiting various projects and researchers funded by the two organisations with a view of understanding Canada’s support and investments in health in Africa.

The delegation comprised the President of IDRC, Dr. Jean Lebel and President of CIHR, Dr. Alain Beaudet as well as the Vice- President, Corporate Strategy and Communications of IDRC, Joanne Charette.

Prof. John Gyapong welcomed them to the University. He noted that the focus of ORID as far as research is concerned is to create a vibrant intellectual climate that stimulates cutting-edge research and community engagement. He added that in line with ORID’s efforts to systematically document research works, a research report has been developed for community engagement. This he said would give people an update on the developments in the university.

Some Faculty of the university who are embarking on research collaborations with the support of the two organisations briefed the meeting on their various projects. They were the Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), Prof. Chris Gordon who briefed the meeting on the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) project that IESS is embarking on as part of the IDRC/DFID CARIAA programme, Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, who spoke on the Deltas, Vulnerability and Climate Change: Migration and Adaptation (DECCMA) project and Dr. Patrick K. Arthur from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, whose research focus is on the discovery of the next generation of anti-biotics. Prof. Ama de-Graft Aikins, Vice-Dean of the Graduate School also briefed the delegation on a Mental health project that is assessing the services provided by Basic Needs Ghana. The Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Prof. Felix Asante, spoke on projects being undertaken by ISSER to strengthen collaboration between the University and international research institutes.

Prof. Gyapong also mentioned the International Research Chairs Initiative, facilitated by Prof. Anna Lartey. He said the project is focusing on improving childhood nutrition at the community level.

The discussions were interspersed with questions and contributions from the President of IDRC, Dr. Jean Lebel and President of CIHR, Dr. Alain Beaudet who pointed out efforts being made to scale up the research projects to ensure that they make a much bigger impact.

Also present at the meeting were the Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Samuel Agyei-Mensah, the Dean of the Business School, Prof. Joshua Abor, some Chairpersons of Research Boards of the Colleges and staff of ORID.