Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS)

Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS)

Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS)

The NIHR Global Health Research Group on Patient-centred sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) is a research collaboration between LSTM, University of Abuja, University of Zambia, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Syracuse University and Imperial College London. It is led by Professor Imelda Bates (LSTM) and Professor Obiageli Nnodu (University Abuja).

PACTS Objectives

For SCD patients and carers

  • To understand the barriers in accessing and adhering to care and preventing uptake of care
  • To identify, test and evaluate a series of sustainable, locally workable solutions that overcome barriers
  • Identify and uphold expectations for patient-centred care
  • To use successful patient-centred solutions and evidence-based SCD care
  • To capacitate healthcare providers to identify facility-specific bottlenecks constraining treatment, and test and refine strategies to overcome them

For researchers, grant managers and partner institutions   

  • To train researchers in implementation research and mapping and epidemiology principles and methods
  • Mentor and support research teams to become competent and confident involving patient-designed interventions
  • Systematically identify strengths and weaknesses in institutional research support systems, provide support and devise and implement training plans to address any weaknesses
  • Create a multi-national community of SCD-focused implementation researchers and journalists in sub-Saharan Africa

PACTS team

LSTM, UK  Professor Imelda Bates  Dr Tara Tancred

University of Abuja, Nigeria  Professor Obiageli Nnodu

University of Zambia, Zambia  Dr Catherine Chunda-Liyoka

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana  Professor Alex Osei-Akoto

Syracuse University, USA  Professor Bernard Appiah

Imperial College London, UK  Dr Frederic Piel