DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Capacity Building in Sub-Saharan Africa via Core Physics (Spectroscopy) for Women?s Health Equity

Project disclaimer

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Description

This project is a physics-led initiative aimed at building sustainable research capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through hands-on training in applied physics, optical spectroscopy, and data-driven innovation. SSA faces a critical shortage of local expertise in core physics areas such as spectroscopy, limiting the region?s ability to develop, maintain, and apply advanced scientific techniques. By empowering early-career researchers with practical skills in spectroscopy and analytical methods, this project promotes equitable scientific participation and strengthens the foundations for long-term innovation in health and technology. The project will focus on developing low-cost, rapid, and non-invasive diagnostic tools for women?s health conditions, specifically ovarian cancer and endometriosis, which are often underdiagnosed in SSA. These conditions have significant health impacts and are exacerbated by limited awareness, delayed diagnosis, and lack of affordable medical tests. By integrating physics-led capacity building with applied medical diagnostics research, the project aims to bridge the gap between fundamental science and societal benefit, demonstrating how core physics knowledge can directly address pressing development challenges. Project objectives: Develop and optimise vibrational spectroscopy methods for detecting women?s health biomarkers in liquid biopsy samples using cell-line models as proof-of-concept. Train early-career SSA researchers in optical spectroscopy, instrumentation, data analysis, and AI-assisted diagnostics through workshops, joint experiments, and mentoring. Design a compact, signal-enhanced spectroscopic platform capable of detecting disease biomarkers efficiently and cost-effectively. Foster equitable, long-term partnerships between UK and SSA institutions, enabling local leadership in applied physics research and biomedical innovation. The research programme consists of interlinked work packages covering experimental spectroscopy, AI-assisted data analysis, capacity building, and project management. UK and SSA teams will co-develop spectroscopic protocols, standardise measurements, and create open-access workflows for data analysis. Portable spectroscopy platforms will enable SSA partners to perform reliable biomarker measurements, supporting both research and teaching. The societal and developmental impact of this project is significant. By focusing on women?s health, it directly addresses gendered health inequities in SSA, improving awareness and detection of ovarian cancer and endometriosis. Simultaneously, it empowers more than 15 early-career SSA researchers with advanced physics and data-science skills, fostering sustainable local expertise. Outreach and engagement activities?such as school workshops and public demonstrations?will promote gender equality in STEM, inspire young learners, and increase the visibility of women scientists and leaders. Ultimately, this project demonstrates how investing in physics-led capacity building can drive scientific excellence, innovation, and societal benefit. By combining fundamental physics, AI-based spectral analysis, and local training, it ensures that both immediate health-related outcomes and long-term capacity-building goals are achieved. This initiative strengthens SSA research ecosystems, promotes equitable participation in science, and delivers practical solutions for pressing women?s health challenges?exemplifying the transformative impact of physics on global development.

Objectives

This project is a physics-led initiative aimed at building sustainable research capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through hands-on training in applied physics, optical spectroscopy, and data-driven innovation. SSA faces a critical shortage of local expertise in core physics areas such as spectroscopy, limiting the region?s ability to develop, maintain, and apply advanced scientific techniques. By empowering early-career researchers with practical skills in spectroscopy and analytical methods, this project promotes equitable scientific participation and strengthens the foundations for long-term innovation in health and technology. The project will focus on developing low-cost, rapid, and non-invasive diagnostic tools for women?s health conditions, specifically ovarian cancer and endometriosis, which are often underdiagnosed in SSA. These conditions have significant health impacts and are exacerbated by limited awareness, delayed diagnosis, and lack of affordable medical tests. By integrating physics-led capacity building with applied medical diagnostics research, the project aims to bridge the gap between fundamental science and societal benefit, demonstrating how core physics knowledge can directly address pressing development challenges. Project objectives: Develop and optimise vibrational spectroscopy methods for detecting women?s health biomarkers in liquid biopsy samples using cell-line models as proof-of-concept. Train early-career SSA researchers in optical spectroscopy, instrumentation, data analysis, and AI-assisted diagnostics through workshops, joint experiments, and mentoring. Design a compact, signal-enhanced spectroscopic platform capable of detecting disease biomarkers efficiently and cost-effectively. Foster equitable, long-term partnerships between UK and SSA institutions, enabling local leadership in applied physics research and biomedical innovation. The research programme consists of interlinked work packages covering experimental spectroscopy, AI-assisted data analysis, capacity building, and project management. UK and SSA teams will co-develop spectroscopic protocols, standardise measurements, and create open-access workflows for data analysis. Portable spectroscopy platforms will enable SSA partners to perform reliable biomarker measurements, supporting both research and teaching. The societal and developmental impact of this project is significant. By focusing on women?s health, it directly addresses gendered health inequities in SSA, improving awareness and detection of ovarian cancer and endometriosis. Simultaneously, it empowers more than 15 early-career SSA researchers with advanced physics and data-science skills, fostering sustainable local expertise. Outreach and engagement activities?such as school workshops and public demonstrations?will promote gender equality in STEM, inspire young learners, and increase the visibility of women scientists and leaders. Ultimately, this project demonstrates how investing in physics-led capacity building can drive scientific excellence, innovation, and societal benefit. By combining fundamental physics, AI-based spectral analysis, and local training, it ensures that both immediate health-related outcomes and long-term capacity-building goals are achieved. This initiative strengthens SSA research ecosystems, promotes equitable participation in science, and delivers practical solutions for pressing women?s health challenges?exemplifying the transformative impact of physics on global development.

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Location

The country, countries or regions that benefit from this Programme.

Ghana