RAMDDA — Research and Academic Mobility for Drug Discovery in Africa — is a collaborative, multi-institutional initiative funded by the European Union under the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme. The project brings together seven Higher Education Institutions across Africa and Europe to strengthen scientific training, research capacity, and innovation in drug discovery.

RAMDDA enables master’s and doctoral students, early-career researchers, and academic staff to move across partner institutions for advanced training, joint supervision, and laboratory experience. Through this network, the project promotes knowledge exchange, deepens computational and experimental skills, and contributes to developing new antimicrobial and anticancer therapies for Africa and beyond.

Together, we advance Africa’s leadership in drug discovery.

Why Drug Discovery?

Africa continues to face rising burdens from cancer and infectious diseases. Current antimicrobial and anticancer treatments often suffer from toxicity, limited effectiveness, or growing microbial resistance. As antibiotic pipelines shrink globally and antimicrobial resistance accelerates, there is urgent need for new therapeutic compounds, modern laboratory capacity, and cross-border scientific collaboration.

RAMDDA responds to this challenge by helping build a stronger scientific ecosystem able to design, test, and validate new drug molecules sourced from African microbial, plant, and natural products research.

Our Mission

To strengthen African research capacity in drug discovery through academic mobility, joint training, advanced laboratory exposure, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

What the Project Does

1. Advanced Training & Mobility

  • MSc students
  • PhD candidates
  • Research trainees
  • Academic and technical staff

2. Research & Innovation

  • Identifying promising antimicrobial and anticancer molecules
  • Synthesizing and testing compounds
  • Using computational chemistry, molecular modelling and AI
  • Sharing laboratory and analytical infrastructure across partners

3. Capacity Building

  • Upgrading and sharing equipment and research facilities
  • Training workshops and seminars
  • Equipment-sharing protocols between partner institutions

4. Cultural & Academic Exchange

  • Exposure to new research environments and cultures
  • Shared teaching and supervision models
  • Building confidence and adaptability for students and staff

Consortium

RAMDDA brings together seven Higher Education Institutions:

  • University of Botswana (UB) – Coordinator
  • Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)
  • Addis Ababa University (AAU)
  • Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU)
  • University of Ghana (UG)
  • University of the Free State (UFS)
  • University College Cork (UCC) – EU Technical Partner

Who Benefits?

The RAMDDA project supports a total of 61 funded mobility opportunities across the consortium, including:

  • 30 MSc mobilities (49%)
  • 12 PhD mobilities (18%)
  • 12 Trainee mobilities (20%)
  • 7 Staff mobilities (13%)

Strategic Impact

Through these activities RAMDDA helps to:

  • Strengthen African research ecosystems
  • Build local drug discovery pipelines
  • Reduce dependence on imported medicines
  • Deepen collaboration across African HEIs
  • Prepare the next generation of African scientists

RAMDDA strengthens Africa’s scientific leadership by uniting talent, laboratories, and institutions toward a shared goal: advancing drug discovery for a healthier future across the continent.