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Name of Center: West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC)
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Institution: University of GhanaOn Schedule
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Country: Ghana
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Center Leader: Prof. Solomon Ofori-AcquahBehind Schedule
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Annual Workplan: January 2024
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Work Plan ActivitiesDescriptionPartner Contribution (if relevant)2024 Y4Q12024 Y4Q22024 Y4Q32024 Y4Q4Milestone/OutputIf NEW, Provide JustificationEstimated Budget($)Estimated Revenue ($)Contribution from Partner ($)Person Responsible
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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
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Action 1: Establishing structures and facilities for good governance and administration\ DLI Action 1: Institutional Readiness
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Sub-Action 1a: Upgrade ICT infrastructure. This involves website development, and hosting, purchase application software and devices
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Activity 1: Refurbish and Upgrade ICT infrastructurePurchase equipment and software to improve ICT infrastructure through out the Centre 1. Improved access to internet service through out the Centre. 2.Upgrade the MyWAGMC platform to improve data collection, increase productivity and enhance information sharing with both students and faculty. 3. Improve digitization of procurement processes in the Centre to ensure timely procurement of supplies and consumable for staff, students and faculty. 4. Software for data management and analysis procured for researchers.10,00000Centre Leader, Project Manager, IT Officer, Procurement Officer, University of Ghana Computing Services (UGCS)
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Activity 2: Upgrade WAGMC WebsitesUpgrade WAGMC websites by constantly improving its design, functionality, interactivity and security features.1. Improved information sharing with members of the Centre, partners and stakeholders. 10,00000Centre Leader, Project Manager, IT Officer, Communications Officer
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Activity 3: Purchase software and equipmentPurchase of computers, accessories and software that will improve the efficiency and productivity of the WAGMC team.1. Appropriate equipment and software for staff to improve productivity and efficiency purchased.50,00000Centre Leader, Project Manager, IT Officer, Procurement Officer, UGCS
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Sub-Action 1b: Set up International Scientific Advisory Board and expand the international faculty
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Activity 1: Organize meetings with Board and Committee members, and partners Periodic meetings with various stakeholders to provide guidance and input on educational and research programmes1. Feedback from advisory committees on progress of the Centre will help the Management of the Centre develop competitive programs and engage in relevant research activities. 20,00000Centre Leader, Project Manager, IT Officer, Communications Officer
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Sub-Action 1c: Support Administrative Staff of the Centre to improve their professional skills and competencies.
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Activity 1: Support staff to participate in career development and educational programsStaff at the Centre will be supported to participate in various educational programs, workshops, seminars and conferences that will help improve their efficiency and productivity at the Centre. 1. Improved efficiency and productivity of staff members in the Centre. 2. Growth of potential and career advancement.50,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager
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Sub-Action 1d: Efficient management of Centre Administration and activities
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Activity 1: Maintaining daily operations of the Centre by organising, planning and executing Centre activities, procuring office supplies, equipment, fuel, other goods and services, payment of salaries and employing additional personnelThe management of the Centre will continue to assess its daily operational needs and work towards developing strategic plans to accomplish the Centre's activities.1. Centre relocated to new building. 2. Efficient management of activities of the Centre reflecting in timely completion of projects 300,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, M&E Officer, ESS Officer, Procurement Officer, HR unit of the College of Health Sciences
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Action 2: Improving the infrastructure and environment for teaching, learning and research\DLI Action 4: Quality of Education and Research
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Sub-Action 2a: Upgrade Laboratories
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Activity 1: Organize student engagement activities such as workshops, seminars and fairs to improve student experience at the University.Organise activities with the aim of improving overall student expereince at the University. WAGMC will collaborate with faculty and industry partners to provide students with valuable experiences, offering them insights and exposure to networks beyond the university environment.1. Workshops and Seminars20,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Communications Officer, Heads of Departments
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Activity 2: Procure laboratory equipment and reagentsPurchase of equipment and reagents that will improve the quality of teaching, learning and research.1. WAGMC laboratories equiped with research and laboratory equipments to support teaching and learning.20,00000Centre Leader, Leader, Project Manager, Procurement Officer, M&E Officer
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Sub-Action 2b: Sponsor teaching and learning activities at the University of Ghana
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Activity 1: Sponsor various activities of departments in the University of GhanaThe Centre will support various departments to improve the teaching and learning environment and enhance student experience at the university.1. Improved student experience at the University.10,00000Centre Leader, Project Manager, M&E Officer
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Sub-Action 2c: Complete construction of the WAGMC Multipurpose Genomic Building Complex
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Activity 1: Complete the finishing phase of the WAGMC Multipurpose Genomic Building ComplexThe Centre will continue to work with contractors to complete the finishing phase of the building project. 1. Construction of the building completed. 200,000300,0000Centre Leader, Leader, Project Manager, Facilities Project Manager, M&E Officer, Social Safe Guards Officer,
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Activity 2: Procurement of services and goods (furniture, equipment, services etc) for the building complexThe Centre will continue to work the Logistics Directorate, the Physical Development and Municipal Services Directorate to ensure all Public Procurement Authority (PPA) due processes are followed and approvals are recieved to enable successful completion of the building. 1. All furniture and equipment purchaced and installed. Service contracts awarded. 200,00000Centre Leader, Leader, Project Manager, Procurement Officer, Facilities Project Manager, M&E Officer, Social Safe Guards Officer,
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Sub-Action d: Engagement of international faculty for teaching courses and workshops and co-supervision of students
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Activity 1: Continue to engage international and national faculty in program development and teachingWAGMC works with faculty from several universities abroad including faculty from University of Cape Town and Witwatersrand University as well as faculty from Imperial College. This group of international faculty is contributing to the development and delivery of new programmes focused on Genetics.Faculty from the various universities stated will participate in teaching students either through physical sessions or via online classes1. Faculty and students exposed to current content, 2. Opportunity for research collaboration, 2. Exposure to international laboratory practices20,0000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Education and Training Officer
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Sub-Action 2e: Faculty Exchange programmes with regional and national academic partners
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Activity 1: Support for faculty members to visit academic partner institutions and attend research conferencesFaculty members will visit academic partners for periods of about 1 to 2 weeks to observe and learn from other institutions and explore opportunities for researchAcademic partners will host visiting faculty for periods of about 1 to 2 weeks.1. Expose student and faculty to international standards of teaching and practise, 2. Opportunities for research and publication collaboration20,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Education and Training Officer
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Action 3: Enhancing postgraduate training to achieve excellence with increasing quantity of students and a focus on gender and regionalisation \DLI Action 3: Quantity of Students
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Sub-Action 3a: Develop curricular for new postgraduate programmes in medical genetics
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Activity 1: Organize retreats to evaluate and review educational programmes Plan out of campus retreats for faculty to create a conducive environment for enhancing components of the programmes.Faculty from partner institutions may be invited to participate in the retreat.1. Curricula for the programs completed20,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, M&E Officer
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Activity 2: Submit newly approved programmes to the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC)After university level approval the Centre will prepare proposals to submit to GTEC for accreditation.1. Approval from the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC)2,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, M&E Officer, Education and Training Officer, UG Registrar
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Sub-Action 3b: Award fellowships to improve the quantity and quality of postgraduate student education
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Activity 1: Award MSc/MPhil fellowshipsAdvertise programmes and fellowships, review applications and award fellowships to successful candidates.Scholarships for students from industry partners1. Fellowship offers made to students50,000250,0000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Sectoral Liaison Officer, Education and Training Officer, UG Graduate School
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Activity 2: Award PhD fellowships
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Sub-Action 3c: Develop new curricula for short courses (topics include: precision medicine, pre-natal diagnosis, targeted therapy, genetic counselling)
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Activity 1: Develop and run new short courses in Genetics and enrol students into the coursesWork with faculty and partners to develop relevant short courses in Behavioural Genetics.Scholarships for students from industry partners1. New Courses developed and students enrolled80,000180,000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Sectoral Liaison Officer, Education and Training Officer
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Sub-Action 3d: Promoting innovative and translational research with increasing research publications
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Activity 1: Support Centre projects in laboratories that provide students high quality experience in research and mentoringStudents will be supported to conduct research in laboratories of partner institutions.1. Fulltime staff scientist employed, 2. Efficient organisation and execution of student research projects, 3. Efficient coordination of preparation and submission of research publications and grant proposals30,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, Communications Officer, M&E Officer
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Activity 2: Determine the birth frequency, and the molecular bases of sickle-beta thalassemia(sickle-beta zero, and sickle beta-plus) in Ghana.The Centre will work in partnership with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana to collect samples for this activity.Support Centre with personnel and resources to expose students to current research practices/standards and well as provide mentorship to students1. Experiential research for WAGMC students and increased faculty and student collaborative research20,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, M&E Officer
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Activity 3: Initiate joint genomics research projects with regional and national partnersCentre will initiate partnership activities to create opportunities to conduct collaborative research in genomicsSickle Cell Foundation of Ghana runs national new born screening in Ghana. The foundation will collect and provide samples for the Centre to analyse.1. Sites identified to commence data collection, 2. Study coordinators assigned to oversee and monitor the study, 3. Clinicians assigned to various sites to begin data collection 168,000168,000168,000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, M&E Officer, Sectoral Partners
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Activity 4: Investigate the molecular bases of rare genetic disorders in GhanaData collection and analysisPartner Institutions will avail researchers and resources for research activities.1. Collaborative research projects between Centre and partner institutions, 2. Students co-supervised by regional faculty, 3. Regionally co-authored publications000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, M&E Officer, Sectoral Partners
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Action 4: Affirming relevance of education and research through externally generated revenue, internships, and entrepreneurship / DLI Action 5: Relevance of Education and Research
Education /Research
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Activity 1: Support faculty to work together with regional and international partners to sustain collaborative extramural funding to support genomics researchThe Centre will support faculty to participate in retreats, workshops and seminars to increase opportunities for collaborative research.1. Advancement of research by faculty, increase in faculty derived funding for Centre’s research projects, increased faculty collaboration with regional and international partners20,0001,000,0000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, M&E Officer, Sectoral Partners
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Activity 2: Support faculty to submit at least 3 investigator-initiated grant applicationsFaculty will be provided with administrative support to write and submit grants. Partners will be invited to contribute to grant applications.1. Number of research projects available to students, 2. Funding opportunities for students who work with faculty members with grants, 3. Co-author opportunities for faculty 10,000500,0000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, M&E Officer
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Activity 3: Support faculty to publish peer-reviewed articlesThe Centre will provide administrative support to faculty to publish articles and also pay publication related fees.Partners will be invited to contribute to publications.1. Increased number of faculty publications10,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, M&E Officer
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Action 5: Embarking on activities in collaboration with sectoral and industry partners to increase awareness of genetic diseases and provide access to genetic health across the West African Region \ DLI Action: 2 Development Impact
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Activity 1: Collaborate with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana to upgrade the national new-born screening for sickle cell disease in Ghana. The Centre will continue it's collaborative programme with the Foundation to provide a confirmatory hemoglobin electrophoresis test using its automated capillary elecrophoresis system for samples that are difficult to diagnose with IEF alone. Personnel from Sickle Cell Foundation will work with the Centre to conduct genetic screening 1. Increase in availability of genetic testing services 20,00000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Research Coordinator, M&E Officer, Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana
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Action 6: Promoting timeliness and quality of fiduciary management\ DLI Action: 6 Timeliness and Quality of FM
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Activity 1: Timely financial reporting for the (WAGMC) ACE Account including timely submissions of Interim Financial Reports and audits reports Administrative team will ensure that all reports are put together in a timely manner and submitted according to reporting timelines.1. All financial reports repaired and submitted.2,00053,0000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Finance Officer, Procurement Officer
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Activity 2: Engage Internal and External auditors to conduct audits of the Centre and submit external audit reports to the UG Internal Audit Committee for review.Management of the Centre will work with UG Internal Audit unit to audit the Centre's compliance to internal controls. 1. Internal and external audits conducted and reports duly submitted5,00053,0000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Finance Officer, Procurement Officer
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Activity 3: Publish the approved budget, financial reports, annual work plan and the financial and procurement manuals of the Centre on the centre’s website to demonstrate transparency of expensesAll documents for timely and quality fiduciary management will be uploaded and updated regularly on the WAGMC Website1. Budget, annual work plan and the financial and procurement manuals and reports accessible on the WAGMC Website053,0000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Finance Officer, Procurement Officer
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Activity 4: Develop procurement plan for approval and ensure quality of procurement by conducting procurement audits as required.Centre activities for the year will be reviewed to develop procurement plan for the current year. Procurement audit will also be done to ensure improvement of procurement activities.1. Procurement audits conducted and reports submitted to the World Bank/AAU000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Finance Officer, Procurement Officer, Communications Officer
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Action 7: Undertake activities that promote the impact of the University. DLI Action: 7 Institutional Impact
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Activity 1: Support the University to revise its strategy for regionalisation and implement activities to improve regionalisation.The UG's regional strategy will be modified to include clear strategies to make the University attractive to both regional students, faculty and parnterships.1. Document with clear strategy to increase number of regional students at UG. 2. Increase in number of regional collaborations. 20,000100,0000Centre Leader, Project Manager, Director of Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA), International Programmes Office (IPO)
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Activity 2: Complete application process for International Accreditaton with reputable agency.The Centre begun work with the ACE Institutional Impact Group constituted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana to apply for International Institutional Accreditation. An accreditation agency has been identified and preliminary requirements have been discussed. Various units in the Univserity are curently putting the application for submission. The activity should be completed in 2023. 1. University of Ghana internationally accredited by a World Bank approved institution. The University seeks to increase its ranking both locally and internationally. WAGMC will work with various academic units within the University to apply to a reputable international accreditation body for accreditation to ensure that the University continues to maintain world class standards. 00Centre Leader, Project Manager, Director of Office of Institutional Advancement, Academic Quality Assurance Unit, International Programmes Office
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Activity 3: Support the University to participate in PASET Benchmarking InitiativeThe Centre is working with various units in UG to develop management information and graduate tracer tool. UG will also participate in capacity building training on benchmarking to improve institutional systems for data collection and management.1. The University completes its participation in PASET benchmarking activities.5,00050,0000Centre Leader, Project Manager, Director of Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA), Academic Quality Assurance Unit (AQA), University of Ghana Computing Systems (UGCS),
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Action 8: Undertake activities to develop entrepreneurship, innovation, start-up companies, and commercialization of innovations that emerge from research activities of the Centre through support programs. DLI Action: 5 Relevance of Educationa and Research.
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Sub-Action 1a: Strengthening of Technology Transfer
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Activity 1a: Upgrade the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Services (TTIPS) of the University of Ghana (UG) with genomics IP capabilities, and work with the unit to identify transferable genomics technology developed in UG that may have commercial value.
Establishment of a UG-wide Genomics Intellectual Property (GIP) Working Group (WG) comprising members of TTIPS, WAGMC and other faculty and staff with the requisite expertise in UG, and its affiliates.1. Upgraded TTIPS of UG5,000Vice-Chancellor, Centre Leader
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Activity 1b: Sponsor the training of members of the GIP WG in genomics IP and Genomic Sovereignty and refresher training for team on legal aspect of their work i.e., facilitating licensing agreements.The Centre will cordinate and sponsor traniner sessions for the GIP WG to ensure they are well equipped to perform the assigned tasks. 1. Members of the GIP WG trained.5,000Centre Leader, Project Manager
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Activity 1c: Organise workshops and knowledge sharing seminars with internal and sectoral stakeholders on Genomics technologyWAGMC will bring together experts from the health sector to share their experience with faculty and students. 1. Workshops and knowledge sharing workshops organised with strong participation of sectoral stakeholders.5,000Centre Leader, Project Manager, M&E Officer
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Sub-Action 1b: Development of Institutional Innovation/Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
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Activity 1a: Organise practical-based short course in Innovations in Genomics Entrepreneurship (IGE).WAGMC will work with key stakeholders to organise short-courses aimed at equiping faculty and students with entrepreneural skills necessary to ensure successful commercialization of innovative ideas.1. Students and faculty equiped with basic knowledge in entrepreneurship with emphasis on IGE.20,000Centre Leader, Project Manager, M&E Officer
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Activity 1b: Continue to support faculty with Seed Grant Scheme to for innovative research and development (R&D).WAGMC will continue to support faculty to explore innovative research ideas with it's seed grant innitiative. 1. Faculty and students conducting innovative research with funding from the Seed Grant Scheme.50,000Centre Leader, M&E Officer
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Activity 1c: Organisation of quarterly Entrepreneurship Training Clinic (ETC).The Centre organise quarterly ETC on the on the protection of Intellectual Property, technology transfer and other topics on commercialization of knowledge in Genomics and Genetic Health and other specialties under the umbrella of a nationwide Centre development impact (DLI 2) project called the Ghanaian Genome Health Awareness Project (G2HAP). 1. ETC Training sessions organised and advertised.10,000Centre Leader, Communications Officer
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Sub-Action 1c: Innovative-Oriented cooperation of research infrastructures and collaboration with the private sector through advisory services.
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Activity 1: Set-up Genetic Counselling Clinic to offer health consultations, genetic counselling and laboratories services and other high-end medical genetics assays.The GhGenome Health Centre and Laboratories Ltd will provide for-profit genetic medicine services, including, consultations, genetic counselling, DNA-based reagents, biorepository, prenatal diagnosis, molecular cytogenetics and other DNA-based diagnostics, leveraging innovation- oriented infrastructure, and advisory and consulting services of WAGMC. 1. Operational start up company offering genetic health services to the general population.5,0005,000Centre Leader
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Activity 2: Commercialization of Centre facilities Facilities such as the auditorium, seminar rooms and vehicles will be rented out to ensure income for maintanance and improvements.
1. Facilities prepared to offer services to the public.
The facilities of the Centre must be maintain overtime to ensure long term benefit to students and faculty. In order to do so the Centre has to find ways of commercializing it's facilities to ensure inflow of funds for maintenance the facilities. 8,00015,000Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, Project Manager, Facilities Manager, Finance Officer, Communications Officer
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