The much-anticipated 2024 Ifakara Annual Scientific Conference, themed "Driving Health Impact through Collaborative Research and Innovation," took place in Bagamoyo – Tanzania’s former capital and home to our key research platforms. 

Running from November 28 to 30, 2024, this landmark event brought together scientists from across our sites and public health stakeholders to advance impactful health solutions through cutting-edge research and innovation.

This year’s conference emphasized the need for innovative approaches and practical solutions in health research, providing a platform for participants to share knowledge, establish partnerships, and deliberate on strategies to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges facing Tanzania and the world.

Over 200 participants, largely Ifakara scientists, engaged in dynamic discussions across disciplines, explore collaborative opportunities, and chart pathways toward creating a healthier future for communities.

Opening Remarks: Calls to address global health challenges
The opening ceremony featured remarks from the Director of Science, Dr. Ally Olotu, and the Chief Executive Director, Dr. Honorati Masanja, emphasizing a shared commitment to tackling pressing health challenges. Participants were encouraged to reflect on their work and explore ways to enhance its impact.

Ifakara department leads: Dr. Jerry Hella – Head of the Biomedical Research and Clinical Trials; Dr. Francis Levira – Deputy Head of the Health Systems, Interventions, Impact Evaluation and Policy; Dr. Emmanuel Kaindoa – Head of the Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences; and Dr. Kafuruki Shubis – Head of the Training and Capacity Building – highlighted Ifakara’s scientific contributions, leveraging community partnerships and innovations to solve health issues and also underscored the institute's investment in capacity building through its Training Centre which is located in Kingani, Bagamoyo.

Brief remarks from special invited guests, including Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, the Director of Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, affirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing evidence-based solutions discussed at the conference. Prof. Said S. Aboud, Director General of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), and Stella Kajange, Malaria Coordinator from PO-RALG, expressed their appreciation for the invitation and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships.

Day 1 
Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration
In accordance with the conference theme and sub-themes, the conference featured a dynamic panel discussion titled Breaking Silos: Strategies for Enhancing Interdepartmental Collaboration in Health Research. In this session, panelists shared insights for improving collaboration between research departments, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and practical ways to overcome communication barriers.

Empowering communities through engagement
In a thought-provoking keynote address, Lina Finda from the Ifakara Health Institute and Alun Davies from TGHN-Mesh explored the theme Community Engagement for Transformative Research: Elevating Community Insights for Research Relevance and Lasting Change. During this address, the speakers underscored the importance of integrating community voices to ensure that research outcomes align with local priorities making them more impactful and sustainable.

Showcasing cutting-edge research, findings
The event transitioned to a scientific session featuring presentations on groundbreaking research. Topics spanned malaria control strategies, including advancements in insecticide-treated nets, infrared spectroscopy for malaria surveillance, mosquito mating behaviors, and the use of machine learning to predict mosquito age. Researchers also explored mosquito species distribution modeling in Tanzania and novel approaches to treating low-density malaria infections.

Critical health challenges were also spotlighted, with discussions focused on managing HIV in children, the impact of maternal Dolutegravir on child growth, and navigating the PrEP cascade among serodifferent couples. Additional presentations covered stunting and its associated determinants, antimalarial treatments, and strategic purchasing efforts aimed at achieving universal health coverage. 

The session further highlighted healthcare improvements achieved through impactful projects led by the Ifakara Health Institute and its partners. These included public-private collaborations like Afya-Tek, which improved healthcare coordination and access in Tanzania, and insights from the Kizazi Kijacho trial, which assessed the effects of parenting interventions and cash transfers on families and communities.

Day 2
Inspiring success stories 
In keynote speeches, Dunstan Bishanga, Chief of Party for the PMI-funded Shinda (Defeat) Malaria project implemented by Ifakara Health Institute, and Dr. Mwifadhi Mrisho, Principal Research Scientist at Ifakara Health Institute, emphasized how multidisciplinary collaboration thrives when driven by a shared goal.

Joining them, Ifakara’s Director of Science Dr. Ally Olotu and senior research scientist Dr. Ester Elisaria engaged in an insightful panel discussion on "Crossing Boundaries: Case Studies of Successful Interdisciplinary Projects." They shared impactful examples of collaborative efforts, highlighting the challenges and rewards of working across disciplines. The discussion also explored strategies for leveraging multidisciplinary collaboration to drive innovative capacity building.

Collaborations beyond the health sector!
At the ongoing Ifakara Annual Scientific Conference 2024, one of Tanzania's leading telecommunications companies showcased its innovative contributions through a brief presentation. The Telco highlighted its strategic collaboration with the Ifakara Health Institute, focusing on advancing connectivity and enhancing communication capabilities critical for impactful health research and service delivery.

This partnership underscores the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing health challenges. Reliable connectivity plays a pivotal role in ensuring real-time communication, seamless virtual engagements, and effective data management—cornerstones of modern health systems.

The Telco emphasized its commitment to supporting Ifakara’s mission by leveraging its technology and network infrastructure to bridge communication gaps. This collaboration sets a strong example of how synergies beyond the health sector can amplify efforts to improve lives and foster sustainable development.

Day 3
Leveraging AI to drive health research
The final day of the IASC2024 conference featured an engaging panel discussion on "Promoting Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Health Research." The session brought together experts, including Ifakara Health Institute’s research scientist Halfan Ngowo, data scientist Selemani Mbaga, and other panelists, Isaac Lyatuu and Khamisi Awadhi, to explore how AI and data science can transform healthcare. 

Central to the discussion were topics such as enhancing research potential through AI, improving data analysis and sharing, and adopting advanced data infrastructure to connect health information for better healthcare outcomes.

The panelists also emphasized the importance of ensuring young scientists have access to AI infrastructure and resources while calling for clear policies and guidelines to guide their efforts. Ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI were a key focus, with suggestions to validate AI-generated data before application to ensure reliability and accuracy. The discussion highlighted AI's transformative potential while stressing the need for ethical and inclusive approaches to its adaptation in health research.

Inspiring the next generation of scientists
In another inspiring Q&A session, senior scientist Dr. Fatuma Manzi – who has over 20 years of experience in research – alongside young researchers Aneth Tumbo and Fadhila Kihwele, shared their experiences and highlighted the opportunities and platforms they encountered in their journey as young, passionate researchers at Ifakara Health Institute. 

Their discussion also touched on the importance of empowering women in science by ensuring accessible opportunities based on merit and capacity, rather than favoritism. Additionally, the session stressed the value of collaborative support, with senior scientists playing a crucial role in mentoring and uplifting young researchers. 

Celebrating excellence and closing remarks
As this year’s conference drew to a close, participants were recognized for their exceptional contributions in turbo talks, oral presentations, and poster presentations during the awards session.  

The conference concluded with closing remarks delivered by the Chief Executive Director, Dr. Honorati Masanja. He expressed his pride in the successful organization of the 3rd Ifakara Annual Conference and emphasized the importance of translating the discussions held over the past three days into actionable outcomes. Dr. Masanja urged participants to prioritize fostering collaborations with stakeholders and communities and to leverage the interdisciplinary frameworks developed to guide the Institute’s work. 

>> Click here to view more photos from the event.