Instrumental Access Awardees
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Agriculture & Food Security

In Benin, researchers at Université d'Abomey-Calavi's School of Plant Sciences are working on breeding nutritious, climate-resilient crops that will increase food supplies and economic stability for farmers.
Read our profile of these Instrumental Access awardees and others whose research is focused on agriculture and food security.
Energy & the Environment

Instrumental Access awardees in Colombia have founded South America's first-ever nanotechnology engineering department at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, where researchers are creating practical and affordable solutions for storing energy.
Read this profile and more stories of Instrumental Access awardees focused on energy and the environment.
Global Health

At Maratha Mandal’s NGH Institute of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, Instrumental Access awardees are investigating which types of stem cells have the most potential for use in regenerative therapy.
Read about their efforts and those of more than 40 other Instrumental Access awardees whose work is focused on improving global health.
Agriculture and Food Security Research Profiles
Benin
- Modern approaches to breeding traditional crops: Université d'Abomey-Calavi
Botswana
- More effective fertilization: Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Cameroon
- More productive root and tuber crops: Université des Montagnes
Ghana
- Adding value to indigenous staple crops: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Protecting cashew crops from invasive pests: University of Energy and Natural Resources
Kenya
- Safer storage for maize: Karatina University
- Cultivating and producing fine silks in Kenya: Rongo University
- Breeding better potatoes: University of Eldoret
Malawi
- Engineering bean plants for resilience, nutrition, and crop yields: Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Nigeria
- Transforming agricultural waste into animal feed: Lead City University
- Cultivating traditional vegetables for better nutrition: University of Lagos
- Improving organic aquaculture: Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology
- Genetic analysis of native legumes: University of Port Harcourt
Tanzania
- Treating skin conditions in animals: Sokoine University of Agriculture
- Pest and disease management in agriculture: Open University of Tanzania
- Organic control of tomato pests: Mkwawa University College of Education
Uganda
- Fighting antimicrobial resistance in livestock: National Livestock Resources Research Institute
Vietnam
- Improving irrigation systems for black pepper cultivation: Nong Lam University
Zimbabwe
- Breeding cassava for higher crop yields and disease resistance: University of Zimbabwe
- Genetic control of tomato leaf miner: Lupane State University
Energy and the Environment Research Profiles
Bangladesh
- Bioremediation for clean water: Jagganath University
Benin
- Antimicrobial residues and resistance genes in drinking water: Université d'Abomey-Calavi
Colombia
- Practical, affordable solutions for energy storage: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
- Fique, a byproduct of coffee bag production, as a sustainable alternative for energy storage: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
Eswatini
- Assessing the quality of drinking water in Eswatini: University of Eswatini
Ghana
- Cleaner and safer extraction of gold from refractory ores: Ashesi University, University of Mines and Technology
- Removing heavy metals from water: University of Energy and Natural Resources
Jamaica
- Microbial diversity at Jamaica's largest municipal waste dump: University of Technology, Jamaica
Kenya
- Bioremediation of water and soils: Machakos University
- Environmental microbiology of soda lakes: University of Embu
- Converting plant waste to biofuel: Moi University
- Improved solar panel cells: Alupe University College
Nigeria
- Monitoring endocrine disruptors in aquatic ecosystems: University of Ibadan
Peru
- Removing mining waste from waterways: Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología
South Africa
- Recycling byproducts of sugar refining: University of KwaZulu-Natal
Tanzania
- Improving indoor air quality: Dar es Salaam University College of Education
- Detecting microplastics in water: Dar Es Salaam University College of Education
- Tracking pathogens in drinking water to their source: Sokoine University of Agriculture
Vietnam
- Managing peat forest ecosystem health: Nong Lam University
Zimbabwe
- Recycling CO2 in chemical manufacturing: Midlands State University
Global Health Research Profiles
Armenia
- Population genetics of schizophrenia and other polygenic diseases in Armenia: National Academy of Sciences of the Repbulic of Armenia
- Personalized medicine for schizophrenia, cancer, and familial Mediterranean fever: Russian-Armenian University
- Accelerating COVID-19 testing in Armenia: National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
Benin
- Detecting antimicrobial residues and resistance genes in drinking water: Université d'Abomey-Calavi
- Screening local plants for novel antimicrobials and treatments for diarrhea in children: Université d'Abomey-Calavi
Brazil
- Animal models for language impairment: Universidade Federal Rio Grande do Norte
Cameroon
- Searching for cures for toxoplasmosis: Université de Yaoundé I
- Antifungals used in traditional medicine: Université de Dschang
- Investigating markers of druf resistance in trypanosomes (parasites that cause sleeping sickness): Université de Dschang
Dominican Republic
- Establishing the Dominican Republic's first institute to fight infectious diseases: Universidad Iberoamericana
- Clinical trials for PrEP to prevent HIV in the Caribbean: Universidad Iberoamericana
- Surveillance of mosquito-borne viruses: Universidad Iberoamericana
- Adding diagnostics capacity for COVID-19 and other infections: Universidad Iberoamericana
Ecuador
- Ecuador’s newest diagnostic laboratory: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Ethiopia
- Developing clinical trials infrastructure for the developing world: Centre for Innovative Drug Development & Therapeutic Trials for Africa at Addis Ababa University
Ghana
- Developing palatable anti-malarials for children: Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Expanding Ghana's diagnostics infrastructure: Garden City University College
- Reducing maternal mortality in Ghanaian hospitals: University of Ghana
- Identifying targets for malaria vaccines: University of Health and Allied Science
- Targeted delivery for drugs to fight breast and prostate cancer: University of Cape Coast
- Assessing shelf life for herbal products: University of Ghana
- Antifungals from natural sources: University of Health and Allied Sciences
- Using cassava starch to formulate more affordable drugs: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Validating medicinal plants to treat depression: University of Cape Coast
- Establishing a Center for Research in Infectious Diseases: University of Energy and Natural Resources
India
- Alleviating the symptoms of lupus: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
- Regenerative dental medicine: Maratha Mandal's NGH Institute of Dental Sciences & Research Centre
Jamaica
- Fighting mosquito-borne diseases: Natural Products Institute at the University of the West Indies, Mona
- Designing drugs to fight non-communicable diseases: University of Technology, Jamaica
Kenya
- Drawing on traditional medicine and natural products to fight diabetes: Moi University
- Using flavanoids from mesquite to manufacture pharmaceutical and cosmetic products: Moi University
- Herbal tea to relieve arthritis pain: United States International University-Africa
- Alternative treatments for cervical and prostate cancer: Mount Kenya University
Malawi
- Diagnosing non-malarial fever in children: Malawi University of Science and Technology
- Disease surveillance following Cyclone Idai: Malawi University of Science and Technology
- COVID-19 diagnostics: Malawi University of Science and Technology
Mexico
- Using stem cells to better understand diabetes: Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
Namibia
- Desert microbes as a source for novel antimicrobials: University of Namibia
- Antimicrobials from termite mounds: University of Namibia
- Drug discovery for HIV and cancer: University of Namibia
Nigeria
- Practical and affordable solutions for disinfecting drinking water: Redeemer's University
- Personalized treatment for cancer: University of Ibadan
- Using genomics to improve diagnosis of patients with fever: Redeemer's University
- Safer and more affordable treatments for sickle cell disease: University of Lagos
- Drug discovery for hypertension: University of Ibadan
- Making traditional cancer treatments safer for patients: University of Ilorin
- Diet as a factor in twinning and fertility: University of Benin
- Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for malaria: University of Medical Sciences, Ondo
- Surveillance of resistance to anti-malarials: Umaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina
- Investigating high frequency of twin births in Igbo-Ora: University of Benin and University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (joint project)
- Using traditional flora to fight rare diseases: Bells University of Technology
- Monitoring multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: Afe Babalola University
- Searching for cancer medicines in sea beans: Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology
- Monitoring emerging malaria parasites: University of Medical Sciences, Ondo
Palestine
- Synthesizing new anticancer compounds: Al-Quds University
Peru
- Treating and preventing neurologic disorders caused by parasites: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
- Engineering better tools for surgeons treating gastroschisis, a serious birth defect: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Republic of Congo
- Molecular characterization of malaria parasites: Université Marien Ngouabi
South Africa
- Discovery of novel antimicrobials: University of KwaZulu-Natal
Ukraine
- Monitoring the spread of Lyme disease in Ukraine: I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University
- Understanding oxidative stress: Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University
Uruguay
- Improving treatment for parasitic infections: Universidad de la República
Zambia
- Examining traditional treatments for hypertension: University of Zambia
- Investigating an extract of the prickly pear cactus as a possible treatment for diabetes: University of Zambia
Zimbabwe
- Drawing from traditional medicine to heal cancerous wounds: Bindura University of Science Education