Dakar – Mohammed VI Polytechnique University’s MAScIR Foundation won on Friday in Dakar the prestigious Prix Galien Afrique 2024 in the best medical technology category.
The award was presented by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to Professor Hassan Sefrioui, Director and member of the MAScIR executive committee, at the closing ceremony of the 7th Galien Forum Africa, held on October 22-25 in the Senegalese capital.
Sefrioui expressed to MAP his appreciation at this accolade, which rewards years of excellence and innovation in RandD developed within MAScIR, particularly in the field of diagnosing diseases prevalent in Africa.
Sefrioui, who is also a member of the World Health Organisation’s Technical and Advisory Group on Diagnostics, saw the award as the fruit of a long period of work since 2010 at the MAScIR medical biotechnology centre, with the aim of establishing an innovative technological platform for the development of ‘Made in Morocco’ kits to diagnose a number of diseases.
He cited the
team’s success in developing several diagnostic kits, including for leukaemia, breast cancer, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and COVID-19. These kits have been distributed in Morocco, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Rwanda, in collaboration with the African Union’s Africa Center for Diseases Control (CDC).
Sefrioui also reported that in September 2024, the Mpox virus diagnostic kit developed by UM6P-MAScIR was approved by the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and registered in Morocco with the Medicines and Pharmaceuticals Division.
The MAScIR Foundation aims to promote and develop technological research centres in fields of materials and nanomaterials, biotechnology, microelectronics and life sciences. Its actions focus on applied research and innovation to meet market needs.
The Galien Forum Africa, holding its 7th session in Dakar under the theme “Health and community action in the face of climate and environmental crises in Africa”, is working t
o boost research and sustainable development through sharing experiences on major public health issues.
This edition brought together global participants, including Nobel Prize winners, political leaders and researchers. The event provided a platform for high-level scientific exchanges on issues of common interest and Africa’s health priorities, as well as examining the challenges and prospects in this area.
In addition to the MAScIR Foundation, the Cyber Rwanda project by the YLabs collective was awarded Best digital solution.
The Prix Galien Afrique recognises significant innovations and advances in discoveries and therapies, rewarding researchers, institutions and the public and privatpharmaceutical industry.
Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse