Islamabad, the longstanding partnership between the Aga Khan University (AKU) and the University of Michigan (U-M) is set to deepen as top leaders from both institutions are scheduled to meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, next week. This collaboration, which has already secured over $7 million in funding from the US National Institutes of Health, will expand its research endeavors focusing on predictive health and other critical areas in East Africa.
According to a news release by the Aga Khan University, the upcoming visit aims to solidify the relationship that began in 2019, with a formal Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021. A significant outcome of this partnership was the joint $6.5 million NIH grant, which established the UZIMA-DS data hub. This Kenyan-led project utilizes advanced data assimilation and AI tools to tackle maternal and child health issues and mental health concerns among young individuals in Africa.
Since its inception, the AKU-U-M collaboration has launched multiple large-scale research initiatives, including the Longitudinal Study of Health and Aging in Kenya (LOSHAK) and a project focused on advancing AI-based colorectal cancer diagnostics across Africa. The importance of these projects is underscored by the anticipated tripling of the population aged over 60 in the region by 2050 and the prevalent challenges in addressing colorectal cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Both initiatives are backed by NIH grants, reflecting their significance and the rigorous selection standards of the NIH.
The AKU delegation, led by President Sulaiman Shahabuddin and Provost Carl Amhrein, will engage in discussions with U-M President Santa Ono, Joseph Kolars from the Center for Global Health Equity, and other esteemed members of the U-M community.
The next phase of this collaboration intends to establish the AKUM Collaborative Platform for Improving Health, aiming for enhanced health outcomes across Africa and Asia. This initiative will see faculty from both institutions mentoring early-career AKU faculty members, honing their research skills. Additionally, U-M will aid AKU in training its research administrators and project management teams.
The University of Michigan, recognized as the leading public research university in the US with $1.45 billion in research funds in 2022, aligns perfectly with AKU’s ambitions. AKU, on the other hand, is renowned for its impactful health science research, being among the top global universities in medical research. AKU’s medical facilities in Kenya and Pakistan cater to an astounding 2 million patients annually, backed by accreditations from renowned US institutions.
Both universities stand to benefit immensely from this enhanced collaboration, with AKU bolstering its research funding capabilities and U-M expanding its innovative research footprint in Asia and Africa.