Johns Hopkins Researchers Receive NIH Grant to Strengthen Surgical and Rehabilitation Research in Tanzania

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University received a grant to help strengthen surgical and rehabilitation research in Tanzania. The 5-year, $1.1 million grant will fund the Education and Mentoring Program on Surgical Work, Research, and Rehabilitation in Tanzania (EMPOWER-TZ) project.   

Abdul Bachani, PhD '11, MHS '08, associate professor in the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health will co-lead the project along with Kent Stevens, MD, MPH, associate professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The grant was awarded by the NIH Fogarty International Center.

EMPOWER-TZ aims to strengthen research capacity to address the burden of surgical disease, short- and long-term outcomes of surgery, and rehabilitation needs in humanitarian settings across Tanzania. The project is a collaboration between Johns Hopkins University, Muhimbili University School of Public Health and Social Sciences in Tanzania (MUHAS), and the Tanzania Red Cross Society. The JHU team will work with collaborators in Tanzania to support the development of training, research, and implementation science opportunities in humanitarian settings across Tanzania.

The primary focus of the JHU team is to help design and launch a track in surgical research within the existing MPH in Implementation Science degree program at MUHAS. This involves the creation of coursework and material, establishing small grant opportunities for trainees from Tanzania, fostering mentor-mentee relationships within and between JHU and MUHAS, and coaching junior faculty at MUHAS.