In a gathering of global significance, the Navrongo Health Research Centre recently participated in the 4th Nobel Symposium on Physiology and Medicine, held at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) in South Africa.

This prestigious event, convened under the theme “Progress and Challenges in Cardiovascular Medicine,” took place from October 21-25, 2024, and is part of the broader “Nobel in Africa” series—a Nobel Foundation-backed initiative intended to expand global academic partnerships, particularly across Africa.

                                                                                                                   ^{Dr. Engelbert Nonterah and co-panelist}

Hosted by STIAS in collaboration with Stellenbosch University, the Nobel Foundation, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, this event marks a milestone as the first Nobel Symposium outside of Scandinavia, a feat enabled by a grant from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The gathering brought together prominent scientists, including Göran Hansson from the Karolinska Institute, Jan Nilsson of Lund University, and Hans Strijdom from Stellenbosch University, all contributing their expertise to advance discussions on cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is an escalating health concern globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Representing the Navrongo Health Research Centre, Dr. Engelbert A. Nonterah, Senior Clinician Researcher from the Clinical Science Department participated in a round-table discussion centered on the challenges CVD poses in low- and middle-income countries. Joining Dr. Nonterah on the panel were distinguished experts, including Prof. Nelson Sewankambo from Makerere University, Uganda, Prof. Rabia Johnson from the South Africa Medical Research Council, Prof. Fred Bukachi of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and Prof. Abdallah Daar from the University of Toronto, Canada.

Addressing the audience, panelists emphasized the growing CVD epidemic, largely driven by rising rates of atherosclerosis. They collectively stressed the urgent need for a dedicated “data champion” to coordinate and compile CVD data across sub-Saharan Africa to support robust meta-analyses and generate critical evidence for future interventions.

Dr. Nonterah and his colleagues also highlighted non-health-system approaches for primary prevention and called for political commitment in implementing policies aimed at CVD control.

The symposium featured presentations on the latest research findings, including novel mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis, potential molecular targets for drug therapy, and updates on clinical trials evaluating new treatments for atherosclerosis and related cancers. The gathering underscored the value of international scientific cooperation in addressing a global health challenge and offered insights into potential strategies for mitigating CVD’s impact, particularly in regions where health systems face significant constraints.

Through this engagement, the Navrongo Health Research Centre not only contributed to a high-level scientific discourse but also strengthened its connections with global institutions dedicated to tackling cardiovascular disease, a commitment that continues to drive impactful health outcomes across the region.