The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), says it is poised to become a centre of excellence in research, diagnosis, prevention and control of diseases.

It has therefore appealed to the government to support its activities by providing the needed funding regularly.

“The institute is capable of being a scientific centre of choice, but this will require immense support in terms of capacity building and infrastructure development from government,” Dr James Aboagye, a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the centre said.

Speaking to the Ghanaian Times, Dr Aboagye said government must invest in research and development in general by helping to build the capacity and improve infrastructure.

According to him, most research funding came from external donors and this did not augur well in the country which wanted to develop.

“The government should invest research and development by helping to build infrastructure and capacity and also help us to meet up with the current need, so that we can do research pertaining to us,” he said.

“It would be easier if the funding was from our government for us to apply for, to be able to enhance our research,” Dr Aboagye added.

Dr Aboagye explained that most developed countries focused on research and development (R & D) to reach where they are now.

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research was established in 1979 in honour of Dr Hideyo Noguchi, who researched into yellow fever in Ghana and died from the disease in the country in 1928.

Since then, the Institute has been conducting research into communicable and non-communicable diseases, training biomedical researchers and providing laboratory diagnostics, monitoring and surveillance services in support of national public health.

However, the Institute said it is ready to position itself as the preferred research centre with government assistance.

BY: FRANCIS NTOW