Co-Director of SPARC at Stanford University and Vice President of SPARC Global USA, Professor Kevin Grimes, says Nigeria has a unique opportunity to turn scientific breakthroughs into tangible healthcare solutions, as the country hosts the SPARC Africa Translational Research Boot Camp and Scientific Conference in Abuja this week.
In an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Grimes said the initiative is a collaboration between the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and Stanford University’s SPARC programme, focusing on bridging the critical gap between laboratory discoveries and treatments that reach patients.
“The fundamental problem is that academics are rewarded for basic research, but there’s a gap in moving those discoveries to patients with unmet medical needs. That’s what we call the ‘valley of death,’”
He added that beyond funding, a lack of know-how for de-risking projects prevents companies and venture capitalists from investing in early-stage biomedical innovations.
Prof. Grimes highlighted that the SPARC model, successful globally, must be adapted to Africa’s structural realities. “A minority of universities in the US are equipped to do this, and it varies worldwide. With the right leadership, political will, and funding, academics can learn to make these projects succeed.”
The week-long boot camp in Abuja features hands-on training sessions from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., combining seminars, lectures, and breakout workshops. Participants include African scientists, university leaders, industry executives, and heads of teaching hospitals.
Grimes emphasised that SPARC’s mentorship extends from project inception all the way through to funding and commercialisation, ensuring continuity beyond the conference.
“We continue mentorship from the very beginning until projects are fully funded and moved forward. That is the most critical component.”
Ownership of innovations remains a priority. “The idea is for African researchers to develop therapies and diagnostics for local problems. Ownership should stay with African institutions. Research institutions will retain patents, licence them out, and benefit from royalties, ideally keeping companies and innovations within Africa,” he said.
Grimes also addressed the key challenges for Nigerian researchers, noting two major hurdles: securing funding to de-risk projects and convincing investors that these innovations will both benefit patients and yield returns.
“Therapeutics developed in Nigeria could serve populations of African descent globally, generating income that flows back to local researchers and institutions.”
Grimes concluded that the long-term impact of SPARC Nigeria will be measurable through patents, spin-off companies, startups, and clinical trials within 18 to 24 months.
He stressed the importance of aligning the end product from the start, ensuring that each innovation addresses real-world health challenges and is integrated into a sustainable ecosystem.
Boluwatife Enome
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