A ten-member delegation from the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) paid a three-day familiarisation and working visit to the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS). The purpose of the visit was to conclude discussions on a collaborative clinical trial programme between DNDi and UHAS.
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor, Professor John Owusu Gyapong, assured the team of the total commitment of the University to support research collaborations. The Vice Chancellor underscored the University’s commitment to research that will attract and develop excellent approaches for the elimination of Neglected Diseases.
The Director of the Institute of Health Research, UHAS,  Professor Seth Owusu-Agyei, reiterated the University’s commitment to building strong collaborations that will be beneficial to both institutions. He expressed the hope that this collaboration will enhance the research capacity of UHAS and enable the two institutions to undertake further Neglected Diseases research.     
The DNDi team held series of meetings with various Directors and Heads of Units of the University and also visited the proposed site for the Clinical Trial at the School of Public Health, UHAS and the Volta Regional Hospital.
The instant study will be led by Dr. Nicholas Opoku of the School of Public Health, UHAS and will be coordinated by the Institute of Health Research, UHAS.
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a collaborative, patients’ needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development (R&D) organization that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases. DNDi is working on the following diseases: Leishmaniasis, Sleeping Sickness (human African trypanosomiasis), Chagas disease, Paediatric HIV, Filarial diseases, Mycetoma and Hepatitis C.
The team, led by Karen Dequatre Cheeseman (Clinical Project Manager, DNDi) expressed optimism at the prospects of their partnership with the University of Health and Allied Sciences and are looking forward to the commencement of the clinical trials and other research projects that will follow.