Partnering with African institutions to transform AI and healthcare

Global Engagement

Partnering with African institutions to transform AI and healthcare

Queen’s secures scholarship funding to support 34 scholars from Africa for healthcare technology research placements at the university.

By Communications Staff

July 17, 2024

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Queen's PhD candidate Rebecca Hisey with urologists in Dakar, Senegal.

A group of urologists observe as Queen's PhD candidate Rebecca Hisey demonstrates a self-guided system for training percutaneous nephrostomy, in Dakar, Senegal.

Queen’s University has secured funding from Global Affairs Canada to host 34 graduate students, faculty members, and postdoctoral fellows from 15 African institutions. Over the next four years, they will come to Queen’s for short-term research placements focused on healthcare technology. Each will spend four months at Queen’s, doing research in medical imaging, computer-assisted AI interventions, biomechanics, and digital health, and guided by interdisciplinary teams of Queen’s faculty members. The first participants will arrive in September 2024.

“Digital health is on the cusp of transforming access to healthcare and revolutionizing clinical and operational decision-making,” says Gabor Fichtinger and Parvin Mousavi, both Queen’s professors and faculty co-leads on the scholarship initiative. “The BCDI 2030 funding is crucial, providing sustained support for scholars from African institutions as they delve into transformative healthcare research”.

This highly competitive funding comes via the Canada International Development Scholarships 2030 program (BCDI 2030), which provides students from more than two dozen countries in Africa with high-quality technical and professional training. Securing this funding strengthens Queen’s ongoing efforts at building and nurturing global partnerships as outlined in the university’s Global Engagement Strategic Plan, and it aligns with the university’s continued support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“This partnership underscores Queen’s commitment to fostering impactful research and creating lasting global connections,” says Sandra den Otter, Vice-Principal (Global Engagement), whose office will administer the scholarship funds. “We look forward to collaborating with African institutions to drive forward innovative healthcare solutions.”

In addition to the research training, the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) at Queen’s will equip the BCDI scholars with entrepreneurial skills and a mindset to foster social and financial impact in their communities.

Learn more on the Queen’s Global Engagement website.

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