Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) on Monday appealed to the government to make the institute a global centre of excellence for biomedical research. The Institute is therefore asking for support to expose its personnel to training, expand the research laboratory space and the provision of modern equipment

Addressing a ceremony in Accra to commence the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Institute, Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana said financial assistance from government and other stakeholders could make the feat possible. He said there was also the need for stakeholders to recognise the relevance of research in attaining the goals of the institute. The celebration is on the theme: "Thirty Years of Health Research Achievement: Foundation for the Future." Activities being undertaking by the NMIMR include a photo exhibition, seminars and inter-faculty lectures, tree planting, scientific conferences, open house and the launch of an endowment fund to support research. The Institute, established in 1979 to facilitate medical research and improve the health of the people, was a gift from Japan to Ghana. It was named after Dr Hideyo Noguchi, a Japanese medical scientist who died in Accra in 1928 of yellow fever, while searching for a cure for the disease.

The institute conducts research into infectious and communicable diseases and nutrition and provides training for post-graduate students in medical research and specialised laboratory diagnostic and monitoring services to support public health programmes of the Ministry of Health. Prof. Tagoe noted that as the leading medical research Institute, it had contributed to the containment of endemic diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS and poliomyelitis. "It continues to expand its research activities to cover emerging and re-emerging diseases such as cancers, diabetes, and those of the cardiovascular system," he added.

The Vice Chancellor urged government to take a closer look at the research needs of the country and make adequate budgetary provision to support medical research.

Prof. Alexander Nyarko, Director, said despite the strides made by the Institute, it faced the challenges of inadequate space for laboratories and offices for staff, lack of essential equipment, technologies and dependency on external sources for needed resources.

He noted that the Institute was partnering with other stakeholders to develop and conduct clinical trials on a plant based anti-malarial medicine and expand research into the development of herbal medicines for the management of diseases in the country and outside Ghana.