MoBioLab rationale

MoBioLab: Bridging the Gap in Molecular Biology Advancements for Sub-Saharan Africa's Education and Research.

Over the last decades, molecular biology techniques (e.g. gene amplification, sequencing) have become essential for scientists to fast-track their research and reduce the cost of breeding programs or accurately identify species of pests and diseases threatening crops’ productivity and human health (e.g. COVID). Still, in most sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), these technological advances have only arrived at international research institutions or a few heavily funded HEIs. Hence, most SSA HEIs are yet to mainstream practical teaching of molecular biology tools in their educational curricula.

The ‘International Molecular Biology Lab (MoBioLab) Training Programme’ in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda originated from the direct request of 6 HEIs in East Africa to VIB-IPBO. The gaps identified by the HEIs for implementing and adopting molecular tools are the scarce training opportunities for professors to acquire practical molecular skills to transfer knowledge to students and the inadequate access to laboratory equipment to provide sufficient practical activities. Therefore, their limited access to molecular hands-on training hampers their ability to compete internationally in their research fields or access international post-graduate programs where solid molecular skills are needed.

The MoBioLab will train 385 participants in Kenya (Kenyatta and Moi University), Uganda (Makerere and Muni University) and Ethiopia (Addis Ababa and Haramaya University). The project will deliver basic and advanced molecular courses and related training materials for the HEIs’ staff under a Training of Trainers model. Later,the HEIs will ‘Roll out’ these practical modules with their students. Through the Kringloops Lab initiative, VIB-IPBO will train and support the HEIs to deliver the modules.