Miriam Mutebi: So, Here’s Why Basic and Translational Research Is Important
Miriam Mutebi, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“So, Here’s Why Basic and Translational Research Is Important
From lab bench to patient bedside, basic and translational research is how we turn discovery into lifesaving care. Africa can’t afford to sit this one out.
At last month’s AORTIC – PMABC conference in Ghana, one theme was clear: The breakthroughs we celebrate in the lab only matter if they reach the people who need them most.
Basic research is where we understand the biology, that is, how cancer starts, spreads, and responds to interventions. Translational research is where we turn that knowledge into action: i.e., diagnostics, treatments, and tools that save lives.
In Africa, this work is more than academic. It ensures that new cancer therapies are designed for our genetic diversity, our environmental exposures, and our health system realities. Without it, we risk relying on solutions that often do not fit our context.
Expanding basic and translational research means:
- Building Africa’s own evidence base.
- Accelerating innovation from our scientists.
- Training the next generation of researchers.
The goal?
Move from “this could help” to “this is saving lives”, and ensure those lives include every patient, from the city hospital to the rural clinic. It’s time to invest in building our own systems.”
More posts featuring Miriam Mutebi.
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Challenging the Status Quo in Colorectal Cancer 2024
December 6-8, 2024
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ESMO 2024 Congress
September 13-17, 2024
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ASCO Annual Meeting
May 30 - June 4, 2024
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Yvonne Award 2024
May 31, 2024
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OncoThon 2024, Online
Feb. 15, 2024
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Global Summit on War & Cancer 2023, Online
Dec. 14-16, 2023