As longstanding partners of TDR, the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) in Ethiopia and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brazil recently organized 50th anniversary events that highlighted the impact of collaborations between TDR and research institutions in Africa and Latin America.
Participants at the TDR 50th anniversary event organized by the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI). Photo credit: AHRI
“The five decades of collaboration between Africa and Ethiopia and TDR has been a shining example of what can be achieved when institutions unite for a common cause,” said Professor Afework Kassu, the Director General of AHRI, at a celebration event held at the Elgel Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 20 June 2024. “It is a story of shared vision, mutual respect, and collective action towards a healthier future for all.”
Professor Afework Kassu, the Director General of AHRI.
Photo credit: AHRI
The event brought together 76 participants, including past and present TDR fellows, grantees, trainees, guests from partners organizations and other researchers from AHRI who shared testimonials of TDR’s impact on individual careers and institutions. For example, Dr Dilnesaw Yehualaw emphasized TDR’s role in establishing the Tropical and Infectious Disease Research Center at Jimma University in Ethiopia, allowing it to expand capacity and manage complex research projects.
In his opening remarks, TDR Director Dr John Reeder also noted the close relationship between TDR and AHRI as seen in the fact that Dr Tore Godal, who served as the Director of AHRI from 1970 to 1973, later became the second director of TDR between 1986 and 1998, largely because of the seminal work conducted at AHRI. And until recently, Dr Abraham Aseffa, who was a senior scientist at AHRI, led TDR’s Research for Implementation unit.
Current collaborative work, related to institutional mentorship to foster the careers of the next generation of scientists and incorporating an intersectional gender lens in research on infectious diseases, were also presented.
More details on the event can be found in the full report.
Separately, on 4 July 2024, Fiocruz organized a virtual seminar entitled “50 years of TDR: taking stock and perspectives,” livestreamed on YouTube in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
“It’s an honor to collaborate with TDR,” said Dr Marco Krieger, Vice President of Production and Innovation in Health at Fiocruz. “Fiocruz is dedicated to fighting neglected diseases and we have learned a lot from TDR.”
In 2021, TDR and Fiocruz formalized their alliance with a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by Dr Nísia Trindade Lima, at the time Fiocruz’s President and now Brazil’s Minister of Health.
Clockwise from top left: Dr Claudia Chamas, Senior Researcher at Fiocruz; Dr Marco Krieger, Vice President of Production and Innovation in Health at Fiocruz; TDR Director Dr John Reeder, TDR Partnerships and Global Engagement Manager Dr Garry Aslanyan, Ms Maria Isabel Echevarria, IR Training Coordinator, CIDEIM; and Mr Igor Barbosa, Head of the Global Health Division of Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations
“There is a clear alignment between TDR’s priorities and those of the Brazilian government, to eliminate diseases affecting vulnerable populations,” said Mr Igor Barbosa, Head of the Global Health Division of Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations. “Looking into the future, we can identity many areas of convergence and joint work.”
For more information, please contact Dr Garry Aslanyan.