NIMR launches foundation to boost home-grown innovation, medical development
The challenges of diseases and other health-related problems confronting Nigeria occasioned by lack of adequate funds for medical research will soon be a thing of the past, as Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Foundation (NIMR Foundation) will be unveiled to the public at Eko Hotels and Suites Lagos on Thursday (today).
The Foundation will also use the event to raise N10 billion endowments with which it will fund its activities in perpetuity.
NIMR Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization established by Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to build and expand capacity for translational research among early career investigators and promote innovation, development and commercialization of home-grown medicines, vaccines and technologies to address the health needs of Nigerians.
Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) was established through the National Science and Technology Act of 1977. It is the apex medical research organization charged with the responsibility to conduct research into diseases and conditions of public health importance in Nigeria and develop structures for the dissemination of research findings while providing enabling environment and facilities for health research and training in collaboration with the Federal and State Ministries of Health.
It is expected that the Foundation would, through funding, assist Nigerian Institute of Medical Research to develop and administer those activities that supplement its mission and mandate.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Trustees, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN,revealed at the Media parley that the Foundation would mobilize resources to enable NIMR do everything that it is currently doing and should be doing given the broad mandate imposed by the Law establishing the Institute back in 1977. The Foundation’s role is to mobilize resources for NIMR from mostly the private sector rather than depend on funding from Government as the Institute currently does.
NIMR Foundation will prioritize development and implementation of mechanisms to elevate research, innovation and products/ services development in healthcare as a viable business which can address human suffering in form of diseases and other healthrelated problems and become a significant revenue stream contributing to the economic productivity of our nation.
The Foundation will mobilize funds via different sources including, but not limited to, donations from individuals, corporate bodies, and organizations in Nigeria and worldwide, endowments from philanthropists and other well-meaning individuals, grants from individuals, trusts, initiatives, local and international governments, private and nongovernmental organizations within and outside Nigeria and income from commercial ventures and investments.
These will be directed towards funding research-based postgraduate degree programmes of selected junior and mid-level researchers across private and public academic, training and research institutions in Nigeria and supporting innovations and development of home-grown medicines, vaccines and technologies to improve health care in Nigeria.
