UGMC research must translate laboratory findings into healthcare solutions – Prof Evelyn Bonnie

Associate Professor Evelyn Yayra Bonnie, from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), has emphasized the need for continued investment in health research and human capacity development in Ghana. She argued that increased government funding for research and training is essential to building the country's capacity to address healthcare challenges while retaining skilled researchers.

Bonnie spoke during the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) Research Symposium, which took place on September 29 under the theme "From Bench to Bedside: Integrating Research, Technology, and Clinical Care in Ghana." The symposium, organized by the Medical Scientific Research Centre (MSRC) with the Research Training and Development Unit and the Office of External Engagement, aimed to showcase research activities at UGMC and strengthen the connection between scientific research and clinical practice.

The professor highlighted the symposium as a vital platform for researchers to share their ongoing work with the public, especially as UGMC's research activities were still in the developmental stage. She praised the research centre's location within a hospital, deeming it one of UGMC's key advantages. Bonnie explained that being situated within a hospital allowed researchers at UGMC to work closely with patients while investigating health issues identified in clinical settings.

Unlike institutions located elsewhere, UGMC researchers have direct access to the clinical environment, enabling them to identify problems, conduct laboratory investigations, and develop solutions that can be applied to patient care.