INSTAL Africa: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem for Fundamental Research and Innovation in Rwanda

INSTAL Africa: Building a Sustainable Ecosystem for Fundamental Research and Innovation in Rwanda

National Flagship Initiative

# INSTAL Africa

Innovation Science and Technology for Action and Learning in Africa

Building a Sustainable Ecosystem for Fundamental Research and Innovation in Rwanda

Launched October 2023 • Led by FIRAT-Rwanda • Partnership with DrosAfrica-UK

200

Scientists to be Trained

5

Years Program Duration

15+

Webinar Series Conducted

8

Partner Institutions

## Nation-Building Science Infrastructure

INSTAL Africa (Innovation Science and Technology for Action and Learning in Africa) is a flagship national initiative designed to build a sustainable, world-class biomedical research ecosystem in Rwanda. Launched in October 2023, it is led by the Foresight Institute of Research and Translation (FIRAT-Rwanda) and is implemented in technical partnership with DrosAfrica-UK.

It is carried out in collaboration with key Rwandan institutions, including the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), University of Rwanda (UR), University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), and the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA).

Unlike short-term research projects, INSTAL Africa is a nation-building science infrastructure program — strategically engineered to ensure that Rwanda no longer depends on foreign discoveries for medical innovation, drug development, and vaccine technology.

Its mission is to train 200 highly skilled fundamental research scientists over five years, while simultaneously building laboratories, translational pipelines, regulatory preparedness, and youth-based talent acceleration.

This is not just a training program — it is the foundation of a national biomedical innovation economy, aligned with Vision 2050, National Strategy for Transformation, and the African Union Agenda 2063.

## Addressing the Gap

### ⚠️ The Challenge

Rwanda is making strategic investments in vaccine manufacturing and pharmaceutical production. However, long-term self-reliance is impossible without a strong base of homegrown fundamental research.

At present, most breakthrough medical discoveries still originate abroad — resulting in continued dependency, high import costs, and limited local innovation value capture.

The critical national gap is not infrastructure — it is human scientific capital. Rwanda needs a large, technically excellent pool of discovery-stage researchers capable of generating original knowledge, not just adopting or implementing external findings.

### ✅ Our Solution

INSTAL Africa leverages Drosophila melanogaster as a highly effective biomedical research model. This approach enables rapid, low-cost scientific discovery across fields such as:

- Genetics and genomics - Drug development and toxicology - Developmental biology - Neurobiology and mental health - Infectious disease modeling - Precision medicine and cancer research

By equipping local scientists with Drosophila-based research skills, INSTAL Africa will establish a foundation for world-class biomedical research tailored to Rwanda's healthcare priorities.

## Consortium Partners

INSTAL Africa is driven by a strong national and international partnership

### Foresight Institute of Research and Translation

FIRAT – Rwanda

FIRAT is the coordinating lead institution that conceptualized INSTAL Africa. It ensures strategic alignment with Rwanda's Vision 2050 and National Strategy for Transformation, bringing together all stakeholders and managing long‑term strategy.

### DrosAfrica

United Kingdom

An international organization advancing biomedical research in Africa through the Drosophila model. DrosAfrica provides deep technical expertise, training programs, and has donated a large collection of laboratory equipment to Rwanda.

### National Council for Science and Technology

NCST – Rwanda

NCST is Rwanda's primary agency for research governance. Its involvement ensures fundamental research capacity is integrated into national research and innovation priorities.

### Rwanda Biomedical Centre

RBC

RBC is the nation's public health authority. It will host Rwanda's first Drosophila laboratory and ensure research translates into impactful health interventions.

### University of Rwanda

UR – CMHS

UR will train the next generation of Rwandan scientists by integrating Drosophila and fundamental research skills directly into its academic programs.

### University of Global Health Equity

UGHE

UGHE brings global health expertise and innovative medical education approaches, contributing to the training of research-oriented healthcare professionals aligned with INSTAL Africa's mission.

### National Industrial Research and Development Agency

NIRDA

NIRDA bridges science and industrial application — ensuring research outputs are translated into locally manufactured health and pharma solutions.

### Rwanda Food and Drug Authority

Rwanda FDA

The FDA ensures safety and regulatory readiness of new biotechnologies, medicines, and innovations emerging from INSTAL Africa.

## Webinar Series & Sensitization Programs

Building Research Capacity Through Knowledge Exchange (2024–2025)

INSTAL Africa has conducted an extensive series of high-impact webinars featuring leading global researchers, fostering awareness, knowledge transfer, and capacity building across Africa. These sessions have attracted hundreds of participants from research institutions, universities, and health organizations across the continent.

| # | Webinar Title & Speaker | Topic Area | Engagement | Watch | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Building Research Capacity in Nigeria: Drosophila Insights<br>Dr. Rashidatu Abdulazeez, Royal Society Fellow & Co-founder Droso4Nigeria | Capacity Building, Drosophila Research | 👁️ 656 views👍 53 likes | Watch | | 2 | The Ageing of a Stem Cell Niche: Surprising Discoveries & Common Themes<br>Prof. Acaimo González-Reyes, CSIC & CABD, Sevilla, Spain | Developmental Biology, Stem Cell Research | 👁️ 677 views👍 21 likes | Watch | | 3 | My Vaccine Research Story: From Bush to Boardroom<br>Dr. Muhammed Afolabi, Associate Professor, LSHTM | Vaccine Research, Global Public Health | 👁️ 873 views👍 61 likes | Watch | | 4 | Mechanisms of Blood Glucose Regulation During Murine Trypanosomiasis<br>Dr. Abdul Basit A. Amin, Gulbenkian Institute, Lisbon, Portugal | Parasitology, Metabolic Health | 👁️ 296 views👍 21 likes | Watch | | 5 | Influenza A Virus in Africa: Genome & Therapy Insights<br>Dr. Temitope Akhigbe Etibor, Virologist & Drug Discovery Scientist, Switzerland | Virology, Drug Discovery | 👁️ 325 views👍 21 likes | Watch | | 6 | Insights into Infectious Diseases Immunomodulation<br>Prof. Nadine Rujeni, University of Rwanda | Immunology, Infectious Diseases | 👁️ 605 views👍 26 likes | Watch | | 7 | The Role of Fundamental Research in Driving Innovation in Africa<br>Dr. Murtala Jibril, Physician-Scientist & R&D Expert, Africa CDC | Research Innovation, Policy | 👁️ 94 views👍 14 likes | Watch | | 8 | Genomic Insights into Marburg Virus in Rwanda<br>Prof. Leon Mutesa, Leading Geneticist, Rwanda | Genomics, Viral Outbreaks | 👁️ 248 views👍 9 likes | Watch | | 9 | From Flies to Mice: Understanding Diabetes & Parkinson's Disease<br>Dr. Silvia Muñoz Descalzo, ULPGC, Spain | Neurodegenerative Diseases, Model Organisms | 👁️ 272 views👍 11 likes | Watch | | 10 | Why Microbes Are Winning & The Role of Fundamental Research<br>Dr. Wasim Sajjad, Microbiologist, NUMS Pakistan | Antimicrobial Resistance, Microbiology | 👁️ 375 views👍 36 likes | Watch |

📊 Impact Summary: Through these webinar series, INSTAL Africa has reached over 5,000 cumulative views, engaged with hundreds of live participants, and featured world-class researchers from institutions including LSHTM, Africa CDC, University of Rwanda, CSIC Spain, and the Gulbenkian Institute. All webinars remain freely accessible on the FIRAT YouTube channel.

🎓

15+ high-impact webinars featuring global experts in biomedical research

🤝

Formal institutional alignment with steering committee representatives from all partners

🔬

Laboratory establishment — Rwanda's first Drosophila research lab approved

📦

Equipment donation from DrosAfrica ready for shipment to Rwanda

💰

International grant submissions with strong feedback and re-application encouraged

🎯

Youth engagement program designed for secondary schools as talent pipeline

## Five-Year Agenda

Strategic Roadmap 2025–2029

2025

### Phase 1: Resource Mobilization and Early Action

- International grant acquisition - Targeted workshops and online training - Complete setup of Drosophila labs at RBC and UR - Launch of youth engagement pilot for secondary schools

2026–2029

### Phase 2: Full Capacity Building and Implementation

- Hands-on workshops and advanced training in core biomedical fields - Development of e-learning platforms and global fellowships - Establishment of shared research hubs - Acceleration of translational research and industry partnerships

## Join the Movement

By 2029, INSTAL Africa will have trained 200 highly skilled scientists, enabling sustainable innovation, bridging research–industry gaps, and positioning Rwanda as a regional leader in pharmaceutical and health research.

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