Pharmacometrics Africa is proud to spotlight the recent review article, Advancing Pharmacometric Capacity in Africa—Transition from Capacity Development Toward Job Creation, published in CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. This publication underscores the transformative work being done across the continent to train and empower the next generation of pharmacometricians.
This article focuses on the Applied Pharmacometrics Training (APT) program, a fellowship initiative led by Pharmacometrics Africa and many partners. Since its inception, the APT program has been pivotal in addressing the critical shortage of trained pharmacometricians in Africa. By linking education and practical experience, the program has helped be a part of laying the groundwork for sustainable job creation and talent retention on the continent.
The APT program was established in collaboration with Certara, CP+ Associates, and various academic and industry partners. It is tailored for African doctoral-level scientists and clinicians, combining online learning, intensive mentorship, and hands-on data analysis projects. Over the past three years:
- 177 applications were received from across Africa.
- 27 fellows (41% women) from nine countries completed the full program.
- Participants worked on 13 real-world data analysis projects, six of which were presented at international conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed journals.
Program Highlights
The APT program is designed with six guiding principles, emphasizing education, career integration, and job creation. Fellows receive mentoring from seasoned experts and participate in project-based learning to tackle real-world pharmacometric challenges. For example:
- Job Creation and Talent Retention: Many graduates now contribute to pharmacometric units in African universities, consulting teams, or local research centers. The program has successfully countered “brain drain,” enabling skilled professionals to stay and work within their home countries.
- Diverse Learning Opportunities: The curriculum blends self-paced online modules, interactive tutorials, and collaborative team projects. These projects often align with pressing regional health issues, such as optimizing drug regimens for malaria and tuberculosis.
- Global Networking: Fellows gain international exposure through conferences like the Population Approach Group Europe (PAGE) meeting and Digital Health Africa.
Outcomes and Impact
By integrating academic rigor with practical applications, the APT program equips participants with regulatory-quality pharmacometric skills. Graduates have:
- Published findings in high-impact journals.
- Joined multinational consulting teams.
- Taken leadership roles in local research initiatives.
Call for Collaboration
The review article emphasizes the need for sustained partnerships to amplify the impact of programs like APT. Pharmacometrics Africa invites academia, industry, and policymakers to collaborate in expanding opportunities for African pharmacometricians. Together, we can build a robust foundation for model-informed drug development across the continent. Get in touch with our team to learn more about how you or your organisation can get involved.
This review highlights not just the progress made but also the potential for broader impact through collaborative efforts. The APT program exemplifies how targeted training and job creation initiatives can address Africa’s unique health challenges while fostering scientific excellence.
For more details on the APT program and to read the full article, visit this link.