In May, the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) invited NeuroGenE collaborator Dr. Caesar Atuire to speak about successful research collaborations at their Focus on Research Africa day (FORA); a multidisciplinary event on Africa-related issues by experts from the University of Oxford and their partner African institutions. Our Oxford Team took Dr. Atuire’s brief visit as an opportunity to catch-up and show him around the city.

Ms. Kiran Manku attended the AfOx FORA roundtable session where Dr. Atuire spoke about the importance of collaborations and the lessons he has learned from his experience of collaborating across disciplines, institutions, and regions.

Lucie Cluver, Dr. Sam Kinyanjui, Dr. Neo Tapela, Dr. Caesar Atuire, Prof EJ Milner Gulland, and Prof Garret Cotter speaking about successful research collaborations.

Dr. Atuire was subsequently invited to join the Oxford Africa Conference – an event exploring Africa’s relevance at the local, continental, and global scale – hosted by the University of Oxford Africa Society (AfriSoc) the very next day.

Dr. Caesar Atuire attending a formal dinner hosted by AfOx and AfriSoc at Exeter College.

Our Oxford team met with Dr. Atuire to discuss the data that has been collected by the research agents for the project “Frameworks of attitudes towards mental health disorders in contemporary Ghana” and plan the project’s exciting next steps.

To reward a productive meeting, our Oxford team took Dr. Atuire punting with colleagues from Prof. Ilina Singh’s Neuroscience, Ethics, and Society (NEUROSEC) group. It was a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of the rare British sun and connect with the wider team.

Dr. Gabriela Pavarini from NEUROSEC and Dr. Caesar Atuire enjoying a punt through Oxford.