National Institute for Medical Research

Tanzania

 

The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) plays an important role in Tanzanian national health research, with over 120 research and support staff. The NIMR Tanga Medical Research Centre is situated next to Bombo Regional Hospital in Tanga city in northeastern Tanzania. Most of the laboratory activities (e.g. blood sample processing and DNA extractions) are carried out at the Amani Biomedical Research Laboratory (AMBRELA). The Centre has a long history of carrying out high quality research, particularly in epidemiology and control of malaria.

People

• Martha Lemnge (MalariaGEN Investigator)
• Deus Ishengoma (MalariaGEN Data Fellow)
• Theonest Mutabingwa

How the team have contributed to MalariaGEN

Dr Lemnge and her team are contributing DNA and serum samples to Consortial Project 2.

For Subproject 1 longitudinal surveillance was conducted in six villages (three in highland and three in lowland areas) with different malaria transmission intensities in Korogwe district. Community meetings were held to inform village members and their leaders about the aim of the projects and the type of data/samples to be collected. A cross-sectional survey was then conducted in May 2006, during which 768 paired samples (DNA and plasma) were collected. Clinical data from the longitudinal follow-up and cross-sectional studies will be sent to Oxford by April 2009.

Subproject 2 uses the data from cross-sectional surveys conducted in eight villages (four in highland areas and four in lowland areas) in Muheza district, northeastern Tanzania. The data and samples were collected in November/December 2003 and July 2004. The team have sent 768 paired samples of DNA and plasma, along with biometric and malaria data, to Oxford.

Read Deus Ishengoma's account of community involvement and joint ownership of health research in Tanzania. More >>