Promoting researcher developing through postdoctoral placements

As part of WANETAM’s efforts to promote researcher development and build a pool of highly trained and mentored early-career researchers, Dr. Baltazar Cá recently completed a three-month research placement at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM. Dr. Cá holds a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Porto in Portugal.

His research during his placement delved into understanding the impact of circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) diversity on disease presentation and outcome. Under the supervision of Dr. Leopold Tientcheu, an Assistant Professor at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM and a member of WANETAM’s TB Work Package, Dr. Cá investigated factors influencing TB disease progression and treatment outcomes in Guinea-Bissau. The work done during his placement also complements his EDTCP Career Development Fellowship.

“This placement is pivotal for my career development. It provides an invaluable opportunity to be mentored by a renowned TB researcher in West Africa, benefit from top-tier research facilities, and collaborate with the vibrant scientific community of the MRCG at LSHTM. The placement offered me excellent laboratory resources, access to well-defined populations, and robust clinical services, ensuring rigorous ethical standards” he said.

Speaking to Dr. Cá’s commitment to advancing scientific research in his home country, Dr. Leopold Tientcheu highlighted that, “Dr. Ca is a dedicated early career African scientist who took the bold step of leaving the conducive working and living conditions in Portugal to return to Guinea-Bissau, one of the remotest West African countries, to lead research on TB.”

Through this placement, Dr. Cá was provided with an opportunity to establish a long-term collaboration with his supervisor, expand his professional network within WANETAM’s scientific community, and enhance his scientific writing skills. He is also expected to contribute towards technology transfer. “I aim to transfer genotyping technology from the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM to my home institution, the National Institute for Public Health (INASA) in Guinea Bissau, facilitating TB research and clinical practice in my home country and beyond. This initiative promises to improve TB management, a disease with a significant economic and societal burden in Africa.

“This placement enables capacity strengthening for the neighbouring country, leading to future grants to expand our south-south collaboration and impact people’s health in Guinea-Bissau and beyond,” said Dr. Leopold  Tientcheu.

WANETAM’s post-doctoral stream aims to provide young and ambitious early career researchers with an opportunity to learn from and be mentored by renowned researchers in their areas of specialisation and position them to be authorities in their fields.