CENTRE FOR CLINICAL TRIALS, RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE (CCTRIS) HELD ITS OFFICIAL LAUNCH ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2023
The Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science (CCTRIS), College of Medicine, University of Lagos, was officially launched on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at the Old Great Hall of the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba.
The launching was officially declared opened by the Vice-chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, FAS who was ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor Lucian O. Chukwu, and was accompanied by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), Professor Bola Oboh.
Professor Chukwu welcomed everyone present on-site and off-site to the official launch of the Centre for Clinical Trails, Research and Implementation Science (CCTRIS), and stated that the journey for the commencement of this Centre formally started in the year 2020 when the application for the establishment of the Centre was received by the University and until 2022 when the final approval was granted.
He appreciated the Director of the Centre, Professor Bosede Afolabi for her doggedness in ensuring the birth of CCTRIS, adding that with the establishment of CCTRIS, the University of Lagos now had a total of Twenty-Six (26) Centre and Research Institutes.
He therefore used the opportunity to appreciate the various collaborators and partners of CCTRIS, and charged the Director of the Centre and her team to ensure that the CCTRIS is certified for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science not only in Nigeria but in Africa as a whole and hoped to having a Centre that will become a leading institution in the field of Clinical Trial, Research and Implementation Science with a focus of developing and validating innovative research and treatment for a very wide range of medical conditions.
The Provost, Professor David Oke, FAMedS who was represented by the Deputy Provost, Professor O.A.T. Ebuehi, in his remarks, acknowledged the presence of everyone and commended the Director of CCTRIS, Professor Bosede Afolabi for her vast experience in the administration and conduct of large clinical trials.
He reiterated the vision of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola in building the 21st century University of Lagos by making UNILAG Future-Ready and creating a Fit-For Purpose Workforce through a technology-driven University, and added that CCTRIS is about strengthening relationships with the town and gown, and acknowledged that the official launch of CCTRIS is a testament to the agenda of the Vice-Chancellor.
The Director of the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science (CCTRIS), Professor Bosede Afolabi, in her remarks thanked everyone and gave an insight into CCTRIS. She stated that implementation research is relatively new but an important aspect because it’s something that is needed to translate the evidence found into actual practice and added that the centre was birthed because of the expertise developed in clinical trials. She further reiterated that the centre is about the conduct of multidisciplinary and collaborative research, administrative and project support, capacity building, implementation research amongst other activities, and added that as part of the advocacy and service policy, CCTRIS will also provide research information from its Centre that will help the community and the country at large.
The CCTRIS team and the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation later in the day paid a courtesy call on the College of Medicine management in appreciation of the support received from them towards the establishment of the Centre and the official launch. They also visited the CCTRIS Laboratory in the College of Medicine.
In attendance were the: College Secretary, Dr. O. A. Obafemi-Moses, FNIM, Ag. Medical Librarian, Dr. N. B. Ukachi; Director of Engineering Services, Engr. O. Oloyede; Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Professor O. da Costa, Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Professor (Mrs) Folasade Akinsola; representative of the Acting Chief Medical Director; Dr. O. Oluwole, Representatives of the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation; World Health Organization; Federal Ministry of Health; Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; and other invited dignitaries, partners, collaborators, stakeholders and members of staff.
