The Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University has achieved a breakthrough, collecting more than 1,100 blood and biopsy samples for its pioneering Dementia Research Project.
Spearheaded by Professor Mahmoud Maina, founder and director of BioRTC and Honourary Special Adviser on Science, Research and Innovation, this effort marks the first large-scale dementia cohort study in Northern Nigeria. The project feeds into Africa’s first open-access iPSC biobank, placing Yobe on the global scientific map.
The Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University
While dementia remains the core focus, participants are also screened for diabetes, hypertension, infectious diseases, and other pressing health conditions. This integrated approach strengthens statewide studies on kidney disease and malaria, ensuring that the findings ripple across multiple areas of healthcare.
The Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University
“This milestone is more than science; it’s about giving our people access to discoveries that save lives while contributing to global health,” Prof. Maina said, highlighting collaborations with institutions in Nigeria, the UK, the USA, the Netherlands, and across Africa.
He commended the Yobe State Government, Governor Mai Mala Buni, Dr. Kundi Machina, and the Emir of Damaturu for their support, stressing that community trust remains the lifeblood of the research.
