Tanzanian Scientist Wins Sickle Cell Research Award

It is an honour for our work to receive this recognition. I hope that this award will help change the perception about science and technology in Africa, as it provides validation that it is possible to conduct genomic research in Africa. The recognition of our work by the Royal Society and Pfizer will serve to show that is possible to develop excellence in science, while integrating this into improving healthcare and building expertise in sickle cell anaemia.

A Tanzanian scientist who is working to save the lives of people with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Tanzania has been awarded the Royal Society Pfizer Award.  

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, International Development Stephen O'Brien congratulates Dr Julie Makani

Dr Julie Makani, who is conducting research on anaemia in SCD, will receive £60,000 towards a 12-month study which aims to provide a better understanding of the molecular, genetic and environmental mechanisms of this disease. 
Dr Makani, who is based in the Haematology Department at Tanzania’s leading biomedical research university, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, has provided evidence that anaemia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in SCD in Tanzania. She has developed a framework to conduct a clinical trial of Hydroxyurea - a chemotherapy agent with potent effects on the bone marrow – in the treatment of anaemia in SCD.  [source]