2019 Fundraising Campaign: "Together, we build"

 

Mission

Our mission is to develop research capacity in Ghana and elsewhere on the continent. We intend to bring scientists and researchers within and outside the country in the pursuit of knowledge and development of research capacity.

Goals

To build a research-oriented institution dedicated to training scientists,  professionals and policy makers on proper data collection, interpretation and application of research outcomes.

Join us

We are currently recruiting faculties, research consultants and policy makers to join our team. Email us at info@sitghana.org

Ongoing Laboratory Projects:

Microbiology and genetic diagnostics.
Our first project is making microbiological media for conducting research in microbiology using local agricultural produce. The media project will enable us provide high schools with media and introduce the students to bacterial genetic screening at an early age. We are also pioneering ethanol production from local agricultural produce for aseptic use in the laboratories. This effort will reduce contamination of experiments in the laboratory and ensure confidence in their work. Our laboratories will benefit immensely from the easy accessibility of these reagents and reduce our laboratory operational cost. We will be able to grow, screen and test compounds to kill bacteria, perform genetic tests and develop assays for diagnosing infections.

 

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Drug discovery:
This project is designed to test the efficacy of local herbal medicine which is widely used in the country. We will survey and follow patients undergoing herbal treatment from admission by the herbalist to recovery. We will start with a pilot project of ten herbalists and their patients. The findings from this initial assessment will inform phase 2 of the project, which will include extracting the active ingredients in the herbal formulations. With this approach we can detect potential global epidemic such as Ebola and Zika virus; provide disease surveillance; and in a timely manner provide possible remedies to these diseases.

 

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 E-Herbarium database:
In this global era, many farmers are substituting local crops cultivation with foreign crops that have been well characterized. As a result local food crops are fast vanishing and food diversity is gradually shrinking. It is our goal to reverse the trend by creating an electronic database of local food as we strive to ensure food security and diversity. We will work with farmers through workshops and focus group discussions on sustainable farming practices as well as better characterization of local crops and plants. As a pilot project we have created a database like this one shown below. This is a joint effort of SIT staff and the community as a means of preserving local crops.

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Fabrication (Fab) Lab:

In consultation with 3D design professionals in Boston we have initiated this program to train and engage young students pursue the 3D and robotics field. The center will use the development of prosthetic legs as a model to train students and staff. Through this effort we will be able to improve mobility of individuals who are physically challenged and enhance their ability to live more rewarding and productive lives.  Your support will create an enabling environment for staff, students and professionals to work together to create engineering solutions (such as the figure on the right) to improve physical function and well-being.

 

 

 

FAB

LAB

Laboratories

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Building innovative green research laboratories in Africa for the advancement of scientific research, culture and climate change.

Collaboration

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Advancing collaborations through workshops, conferences, exchange programs and integration of disciplines. The institute will be a central hub for innovative research for many nations.

Core Facilities

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We will provide state-of-the-art equipment and resources to engage the scientific community to drive science forward. Where these resources are not optimal for our uses, we will design and make better ones.

Capacity Development

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Training researchers and scientists within the African continent. We expand our training programs to other parts of Africa and integrate scientists and researchers across the continent.