Training Africans to Lead and Execute Neurological Trials and Studies (TALENTS): program overview and rationale

Africa bears a disproportionate burden of neurological diseases, yet clinical trials and research often lack representation from African populations, hindering the development of precision medicine for people of African ancestry. The Training Africans to Lead and Execute Neurological Trials and Studies (TALENTS) program, a Fogarty International Research Training D-43 initiative, aims to build sustainable neurological research capacity in Africa through a 5-year partnership between U.S. institutions, the University of Ibadan, and the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN). TALENTS recruits and trains 20 multidisciplinary African scholars post-doctoral researchers and clinicians in clinical neuroscience research, including trial design, multi-omics, and grant writing. Scholars complete an online Certificate in Clinical Research from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), with four advancing to a Master's degree, preparing them as faculty for a new Master's in Neurological Research at the University of Ibadan. The program enhances mentorship and networking via AFAN meetings, peer mentoring, and monthly think tanks, fostering academic career development. Evaluation tracks scholars' academic positions, publications, and funding success. As of February 2025, 15 scholars across three cohorts have progressed, with notable career advancements, including faculty appointments and initiation of PhD study. TALENTS leverages Africa's diverse population and endemic neurological conditions to address global health disparities, aiming to produce a cadre of independent investigators contributing to neurological research and mentorship in Africa, with broader implications for African American health.