The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, has been awarded a US$45,000 grant by the Simons Foundation to strengthen autism research capacity and foster scientific collaboration across Africa.

 

With the development marking a milestone in the institution’s trajectory as a hub for biomedical research on the continent, the three-year grant will fund the Simons Academy for Neuroscience of Autism in Africa (SANAA).

 

The intensive training program is designed to advance experimental and translational autism research through capacity building, mentorship, and scientific collaboration.

 

According to a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Isaac Oluyi, the SANAA program represents a strategic effort to address the significant gap in autism research expertise across African institutions while building sustainable networks for collaborative investigation into neurodevelopmental conditions.

 

According to the statement, the initiative is being spearheaded by UNIMED’s Laboratory for Experimental and Translational Neurobiology (LETNeu) in partnership with the Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab (CNL) of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the United States.

 

“The SANAA initiative will bring together researchers and early-career scientists for intensive training, mentorship, and knowledge exchange in experimental and translational approaches to understanding autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.

 

“The program is expected to create a pipeline of skilled researchers capable of generating evidence that reflects African populations and realities.

 

On her part, the UNIMED Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, described the grant as a recognition of the university’s growing contribution to cutting-edge biomedical research and its commitment to addressing health challenges through innovation and international collaboration.

 

“We are delighted by this recognition from the Simons Foundation. The award is not only a financial grant; it is a vote of confidence in the quality of research being undertaken at UNIMED and in our vision of building a globally competitive research institution,” Adejuyigbe said.

 

She noted that the SANAA initiative would provide an important platform for strengthening the expertise of African researchers in autism neuroscience and creating sustainable networks for collaborative research.

 

“Autism remains an important area of public health and scientific inquiry, and Africa needs a stronger research ecosystem capable of generating evidence that reflects our populations and realities. Through SANAA, we hope to equip emerging researchers with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship required to contribute meaningfully to autism research and care,” she added.

 

According to the vice-chancellor, the partnership with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine further demonstrates the value of international collaboration in advancing scientific research and developing the next generation of African researchers.

 

“Our collaboration with the Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab at Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a strategic partnership that will expose researchers to new methodologies, expertise, and opportunities for scientific exchange. We are particularly proud that this initiative is being driven by our own research group at UNIMED.”

 

The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed UNIMED’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for research excellence and partnerships capable of producing solutions to pressing health challenges.

 

“At UNIMED, we believe that universities must be at the forefront of solving society’s most difficult health challenges. This grant reinforces our commitment to research excellence, innovation, and partnerships that have the potential to make a lasting impact, not only in Nigeria but across the African continent,” she said.