Roundup of GSU Co-Director, Professor Dion Morton's Trip to Nigeria
Professor Morton meets with key stakeholders at the University of Lagos during trip to Nigeria
During his trip to Lagos, Nigeria to attend the 18th Annual Scientific Conference and Gathering of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Professor Morton (GSU Co-Director) was able to meet with various executive stakeholders at the University of Lagos. Notable highlights included a meeting with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Folashade Ogunsola represented by Prof L.O. Chukwu to discuss ways to intensify efforts with the University of Lagos in order to attract, train and support researchers to tackle the complexities of health care and social change.
Other key meetings involved a discussion on the commencement of a Masters in Global Surgery programme at the University of Lagos, utilisation of the newly opened data centre for training students, residents, and consultants on statistical data analysis, and piloting the ION-Foxtrot Cancer Interventional Study in Nigeria. Along with Professor Ademuyiwa, Prof Morton met with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo and the immediate past CMD of LUTH, Prof Chris Bode in addition to a visit to the Provost College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof Wale Oke.
The 18th Annual Scientific Conference and Gathering of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences which took place between the 25th – 26th July was attended by both Professor Morton and Ademuyiwa who were able to present to a wide audience including students, members of faculty, hub members and other invited dignitaries on the importance and impact of collaborative research during the event. The Conference was also attended by Benin Hub Director, Professor Lawani Ismail and Ghana Deputy Director, Dr. Fareeda Galley.
The annual meeting was kicked off by Prof Adeola Onakoya, a professor of Ophthalmology, based at the University of Lagos who spoke on the topic “A sick eye is a sick body: Multidisciplinary Team as a Research Tool”. At the Opening Ceremony of the Conference on the 25th July, Professor Morton was the keynote speaker, delivering a lecture on the topic “Impact of Collaborative Research; the Reach, the Research and the Riches”, further details of which can be found by clicking here.
You can find out more information on the Nigeria Hub by clicking here.
Ghana Hub Director Discusses CHEETAH Results with Key Policy Makers in Ghana
Professor Stephen Tabiri joins Professor Dion Morton to disseminate CHEETAH results and provide an overview of other key projects within the GSU portfolio
NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery (GSU) Co-Director, Professor Stephen Tabiri was joined by GSU Co-Director Professor Dion Morton from the UK to present on various areas of the Unit’s programme to a delegation of stakeholders from across the Ghanaian healthcare sector. Colleagues in attendance at the meeting on the 12th August in Tamale included nurses, midwives, anaesthesthetists, surgeons and media personnel, alongside key policy makers. Key policy makers included the Northern Regional Director of Public Health and Deputy Northern Regional Director of Nursing from the Ghana Health Services.
During the meeting, Professors Tabiri and Morton highlighted the global burden of surgical diseases, the global incidence rate of Surgical Site Infection (SSI) and also novel ways of addressing the burden of SSI such as through the changing of gloves and instruments at the time of wound closure. Following the keynote address, colleagues from the Ghana Hub team were able to present on results generated from the CHEETAH Trial and also discuss the KIWI study that argues against the notion that it is exepensive on health systems to implement CHEETAH.
Other notable areas of discussion included the role of Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) in the research cycle, with insight into some of the resources developed, following engagements with surgical patients and their relatives on stoma care.. The meeting also enabled the team orchestrating the event to present on some of the new projects being delivered by the Hub including HIPPO, GECKO and TIGER.
You can find out more information on the Ghana Hub by clicking here.
Benin Hub Director Discusses CHEETAH Results at Surgical Conference in Mali
Professor Ismail Lawani travels to Mali to disseminate findings from the CHEETAH Trial to francophone colleagues during national conference
The Benin Hub Director was given the opportunity to present on findings from the trial that recruited 13,331 patients globally during the National Congress of the Soceity of Surgery of Mali (SOCHIMA), that took place in Bamako on the 11th August. During the talk, Professor Lawani was able to discuss how and when surgical practitioners should replace gloves and instruments following surgical procedures to reduce the likelihood of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) from occuring post-operatively.
Colleagues in attendance included representation from government officials, including ministerial policy makers, in additon to surgeons and various other doctors. Also in attendance were students currently participating in studies within the health sciences. During the presentation, Dr. Lawani was also able to promote the GECKO Study that launched on the 31st July and has already managed to recruit nearly 2000 sites to date.
More information on the Benin Hub can be found by clicking here.
For more information on the CHEETAH Trial, click here.
Watch the GECKO Study National Leads Webinar Session Online
National Leads from the GECKO Study meet to discuss questions they have following on from the launch of the study in new webinar video
The online meeting that took place on the 31st July enabled all National Leads to ask a variety of questions to a panel of colleagues from the Operational Committee residing over the new study. Questions included issues relating to Data Transfer Agreement documentation, data validation, obtaining REDCap logins and information on data required for the 1 year follow-up for eligible patients.
The webinar is the first in a series of recordings that will be added to the official NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery (GSU) Youtube page that will provide information on the study as it progresses, with the general aim of the webinar series being to help provide an additional method for participants of the study to access information that may assist them during the study.
The GECKO Study (GlobalSurg-4) is an international observational cohort study that has already recruited over 1800 centres across 133 countries. The GlobalSurg Network collaborators will come to collect contemporaneous data on the performance and outcomes of cholecystectomy.
Further information on GECKO can be found by clicking here.
GECKO Study Launch Webinar Video Available to View Online
Online video for the launch webinar provides a detailed oversight of the study that will look into the safe provision of laparascopic surgery for gallbladder disease
The online webinars that took place on Tuesday 18th July attracted a global audience of over 500 participants who were given the opportunity to ask questions to the global panel members leading the study. In addition to the panel discussions, participants were given information on the ethics required, how to enter data onto REDCap and areas of clinical practice where data will be collected. Particular areas of data collection that were discussed during the webinar included bile duct injury and incidental gallbladder cancer.
During the meeting, Mr Ewen Griffiths (Birmingham University Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust) explained why the Global Evaluation of Cholecystectomy Knowledge and Outcomes (GECKO) Study is being launched. He also explained why the study will be of great importance in highlighting the variations of safe provision of laparascopic surgery for gallbladder disease internationally, including low- and middle-income countries.
The study has already recruited over 1800 centres across 133 countries, making it the largest global cohort study to launch within the GSU to date. If you would like to register for the new study, you can still do so before the project officially launches on Monday 31st July.
The online video can be viewed by clicking here.
You can read more on the GECKO Study by clicking here.
GECKO Launch Webinar - 18th July
The GECKO launch event will discuss key topics on the international observational study and feature talks from National Leads and Committee members
When is it?: Tuesday 18th July – 12PM UK BST (early session) and 5PM UK BST (late session)
Who should attend?: Surgeons, surgical researchers, surgical nurses, scrub techs, ODPs and allied healthcare professionals
The GECKO Study (GlobalSurg-4) will be an international observational cohort study. The GlobalSurg Network collaborators will come to collect contemporaneous data on the performance and outcomes of cholecystectomy.
The launch event will include a panel discussion featuring National Leads and Committee members who will discuss various aspects of this exciting new study that has so far managed to result in over 1650 hospitals sign-up to take part in the international study.
Register for the event by clicking here
You can also view further information on the study by clicking here.
GECKO Study Promoted at the Mexican Association of Endoscopic Surgery Receives Positive Feedback
Mexico Hub Director discusses GECKO study at XXXI Endoscopic Surgery International Conference by the Mexican Association of Endoscopic Surgery (Asociación Mexicana de Cirugía Endoscópica – AMCE) in Mexico
Mexico Hub Director, Dr Antonio Ramos-De la Medina took part in the national conference, held in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico on May 5th where he was able to provide an update on various GSU workstreams to the audience in attendance. During his time on stage, Dr. Ramos-De la Medina presented on the results from the completed FALCON and CHEETAH trials, in addition to providing an overview of the GECKO study that has to date seen 1200 across the globe sign-up to take part.
Feedback following the presentation at the national event, attended by a multitude of clinicians and allied health professionals from across Mexico was positive with Mexico Hub Manager, Dr Laura Martinez Pérez Maldonado mentioning that the presentation and promotion of GECKO received many positive comments as well as generating great interest in the study.
The GECKO study will evaluate global variation and outcomes for cholecystectomy (surgical operation involving the removal of the gallbladder) which is one of the most common surgical operations carried out globally.
You can find out more on the recently launched GECKO study by clicking here.
More information on the the Mexico Hub can be found by clicking here.