Nigeria to host first SPARK Translational Research Bootcamp
Nigeria to host first SPARK Translational Research Bootcamp
Nigeria will host the first SPARK Translational Research Bootcamp and Conference in February 2026, the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) has said.
The National Coordinator of PVAC, Dr Abdu Mukhtar, said that the event scheduled for Feb. 2 to Feb. 6 in Abuja would help to bridge the gap between scientific research and health innovation in Africa.
The national coordinator spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Mukhtar said the event would mark the formal launch of SPARK Nigeria, introducing a new chapter in Africa’s efforts to translate academic research into practical healthcare solutions.
He said the initiative was being championed by PVAC in partnership with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development and SPARK Global, a programme established at Stanford University.
According to him, the five-day intensive bootcamp will train African scientists in translational research to help them to turn laboratory discoveries into viable products, treatments and diagnostics for pressing health challenges.
He described the initiative as the beginning of a movement aimed at building sustainable health innovation capacity across Africa.
“Through SPARK Nigeria, we are building the pipeline for local innovation that can power health security of Nigeria and the entire Africa,” he said.
Mukhtar said the SPARK model was globally recognised for empowering researchers with entrepreneurship, mentorship and regulatory expertise.
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“It helps them to navigate the ‘valley of death’ – the often-fatal gap between discovery and commercialisation,” he said.
He said the key objectives of SPARK in Nigeria would include equipping scientists with practical skills in translational research and building a national and regional network of SPARK centres in host institutions.
“The initiative also aims to support a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem and promote policies that prioritise local science, research and development, and healthcare innovation,” he said.
According to him, Africa bears 25 per cent of global disease burden but contributes less than two per cent of global health innovation output.
