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Powering Innovation: Support the Centre for Phage Biology and Therapeutics with Solar Energy
2 min readDec 12, 2024
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Power outages in Nigeria are hindering our efforts to develop phage-based therapies and vaccines against antimicrobial resistance. To address this, we’re establishing the Centre for Phage Biology and Therapeutics. With $8,000 for solar energy, we can ensure uninterrupted research and innovation. Support us in powering life-saving solutions.
As a visiting researcher in Prof. Roderick Slavcev’s lab at the University of Waterloo, I have been privileged to work on a groundbreaking phage-based multi-serotype Salmonella vaccine. This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to fostering scientific innovation back home in Nigeria, where my independent lab is leading efforts in phage therapy and vaccine research to address antimicrobial resistance.
However, persistent power outages could improve our progress. I learned today that Nigeria’s national electricity grid collapsed for the 12th time this year. These constant interruptions jeopardize experiments, damage sensitive equipment, and make it nearly impossible to maintain the conditions required for cutting-edge research.
To overcome these challenges, we are establishing the Centre for Phage Biology and Therapeutics, a non-profit initiative dedicated to:
• Phage-Based Therapies: Combatting multidrug-resistant infections with innovative bacteriophage treatments.
• Vaccine Development: Designing phage-based vaccines tailored for diseases prevalent in low-resource settings.
• Capacity Building: Training scientists to lead in phage therapy, microbial genomics, and therapeutic innovation.
• Global Collaboration: Partnering with institutions worldwide to address pressing health challenges.
This Centre will empower African researchers to develop local solutions for global health challenges, fostering a culture of excellence and resilience in science.
Electricity is the single biggest challenge we face. Without reliable power, we struggle to maintain essential equipment like incubators, freezers, and sequencing machines—key tools for phage research. Delayed experiments and compromised samples hinder our ability to make timely breakthroughs.
Solar Energy: A Sustainable Solution
Solar energy provides a reliable and eco-friendly way to power our lab. With your support, we can install a solar energy system that will:
• Ensure 24/7 uninterrupted research activities.
• Safeguard sensitive biological samples and equipment.
• Enable us to focus on innovation without the constant worry of power outages.
What We Need
We are raising $8,000 to fund:
• Solar panels
• Battery storage systems
• Inverters and wiring for energy conversion
• Installation and setup costs
Your donation will help create a hub of innovation for phage biology and therapeutics in Africa. By supporting us, you will:
• Enable life-saving research into phage-based therapies and vaccines.
• Build local capacity for scientific excellence in underserved regions.
• Set a precedent for sustainable, resilient research infrastructure in Nigeria.
Join Our Mission
We can overcome infrastructure challenges and empower scientists to tackle pressing global health issues.
Donate today to help power the Centre for Phage Biology and Therapeutics: https://gofund.me/13f4acba
