Research Training in Data Science for Health in Rwanda

National University Of Rwanda, Kigali

Investigators

Abstract

Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section U2R Research Training Program (RTP) Type 7 transfer application – U2R grant transfer from Washington University to The University of Rwanda. The transfer application still maintains the objectives of initial application for DS-I Africa initiative (RFA-RM-20-016). The type 7 application is a partnership of 2 collaborating institutions: University of Rwanda (UR) in Kigali - Rwanda and Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL). The overarching objective of U2R RTP is to stimulate and catalyze innovation of Data Science (DS) for Health in Rwanda. A high prevalence of communicable diseases, coupled with a rapidly expanding epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), forecasts a perfect public health storm in Rwanda, providing impetus and rationale to leverage DS to address health care gaps. A structured program design help develop trainee research careers in DS with particular focus on health care topics relevant to Rwanda, including communicable (i.e., HIV, malaria, etc) and chronic NCDs (i.e., hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, etc). We propose to complete the expansion of existing model curriculum for innovative and interdisciplinary DS for Health research training and practice with the identified additional competencies in three major scientific areas: 1) computer science & informatics; 2) statistics & mathematics; and 3) biomedical sciences & public health. U2R RTP is: a) providing support (tuition, stipend, research funds) for 24 trainees: MS (n=14), PhD (n=6); post-doc (n=2); junior faculty (n=2); each trainee receives training for 1-2 years based on individual needs; b) foster an innovative team science transdisciplinary approach to research; and c) build institutional capacity at UR to support the long- term sustainability of the program. The intended outcomes are to: 1) train next generation of data scientists that will have the necessary expertise to solve challenging problems presented by the burden of communicable and chronic NCDs in Rwanda; and 2) complete a full U2R program leadership and faculty and institutional transition from US-Rwanda to fully Rwandan-led by the end of the U2R program. Trainees participates in mandatory week long “boot camps” (twice/yr), monthly webinars and mid-yr mtg with didactic training focused on career advice, research and academic advancement in highly-relevant Data Science and health care topics (i.e., data management, bioinformatics, statistics, epidemiology, communicable diseases, NCDs, environmental exposure, dissemination and implementation, etc); intense Grant & Manuscript Writing Skills Training Program geared towards development of competitive grant proposals (“Small Research Projects, SRP)” that trainees prepare, submit and conduct under direction of a multidisciplinary mentoring team from academic and governmental institutions. Effective mentoring during boot camp occurs through trainee “Group Brainstorming Sessions” where they present their developing SRPs to obtain feedback. An extensive program evaluation by trainees and faculty also provides feedback for improvement. The U2R RTP establishes and cultivates a sustainable program for training, research, mentoring and career development that positions UR as national and regional African leader and a global hub for Data Science for Health in Rwanda.