The introduction of appropriate vaccines to fight paediatric bacterial meningitis remains an urgent priority, as over three quarters of a million children in Africa continue to die each year as a result of this blight. (more…)
Date: 26/06/2012 - 28/06/2012 Time: 00:00 - 00:00
October 4, 2011 Dramatic drop in child deaths
June 22, 2011 TB detection in The Gambia: a new era
ABOUT THE UNIT
Established in The Gambia in 1947, the MRC is the UK's single largest investment in medical research in a developing country. The Unit's research focuses on infectious diseases of immediate concern to The Gambia and the continent of Africa, with the aim of reducing the burden of illness and death in the country and the developing world as a whole. read more
Established in The Gambia in 1947, the MRC is the UK's single largest investment in medical research in a developing country. The Unit's research focuses on infectious diseases of immediate concern to The Gambia and the continent of Africa, with the aim of reducing the burden of illness and death in the country and the developing world as a whole. read more
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VACCINOLOGYThe scientific evidence supporting the value of vaccination is overwhelming: In terms of reducing the burden
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CONTROL & ELIMINATIONIn recent times, several diseases have reduced very markedly in incidence in The Gambia
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CHILD SURVIVALIn common with most developing countries, The Gambia has high infant and child mortality rates
Learn moreVaccinology Theme retreat
The MRC research programme in The Gambia is in the process of reorganization into three new, interlinking, scientific themes: Child Survival, Disease Eradication and Vaccinology.
Emeritus Scientist Professor Hilton Whittle has been studying some of the leading causes of illness and death in the developing world for almost forty years. Hilton, a pioneer of the Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Scheme (GHIS), gives a potted history of one of the longest running longitudinal studies of an infectious disease in the Tropics.
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The Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Scheme
Emeritus Scientist Professor Hilton Whittle has been studying some of the leading causes of illness and death in the developing world for almost forty years. Hilton, a pioneer of the Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Scheme (GHIS), gives a potted history of one of the longest running longitudinal studies of an infectious disease in the Tropics.
[audio:http://www.mrc.gm/podcasts/Hilton_GHIS_Interview.mp3|titles=Emeritus Scientist Professor Hilton Whittle]
Recent Unit Publications
- Impact of fatty acid status on immune function of children in low-income countries.
- Antibody and T-cell responses during acute and convalescent stages of invasive pneumococcal disease.
- The immunogenicity and impact on nasopharyngeal carriage of fewer doses of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine immunization schedule.
1945The Gambia first mentioned in MRC reports, when staff were appointed... more
1947Nutrition Working Party established at Genieri in the Central River...more
1948Lieutenant Colonel Dr J Walters appointed Resident Director in... more
1949Dr Ian McGregor recruited to study the relationship between parasitism...more
1953Following recommendations, the laboratories were converted to a...more
1954Dr I McGregor appointed Director... more
1956The Trachoma Group transferred from Jordan to The Gambia... more
1964The role of antibodies in protection against malaria established... more
1973MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit relocated from Uganda to Keneba... more
1974Dr Bray appointed Director... more
1978Dr I Mc Gregor appointed Director... more
1980Dr Brian Greenwood appointed Director; a new programme of work...more
1980Scientific direction of the Keneba Unit taken over by the main... more
1982Basse field site established; it was initially a focus for studies on... more
1983Farafenni field site established; it was chosen as a suitable... more
1986Commencement of the Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Study... more
1986Chloroquine resistance demonstrated in studies in the Farafenni area...more
1986HIV research programme started... more
1988Caio field site established to undertake a long term study of the... more
1988Discovery by Sarah Rowland-Jones and colleagues in The Gambia... more
1995Established that insecticide treated bednets decrease overall... more
1995Professor Keith McAdam appointed Director... more
2004Appointment of a Unit Executive Management Board... more
2004'Flies and Eyes' study findings published (Role of flies and provision... more
2005Successful completion of the Pneumococcal Vaccine Trial in Basse... more
2005Elimination of Hib in The Gambia, following the incorporation... more
2008Findings on investigation into dramatic decline in malaria prevalence in... more
Medical Research Council
PO Box 273, Banjul
The Gambia
PO Box 273, Banjul
The Gambia
Telephone (Switchboard)
T: +220 4495442/6 or 4494072/9
F: Administration +220 4495919
T: +220 4495442/6 or 4494072/9
F: Administration +220 4495919
