A Hands-on Training Programme and Workshop in Skills Lab and Basic Techniques for Stem Cell Research
Cologne International Forum Innovative Tandem Collaboration: 1 December 2023 - 30 November 2024
Dr. Christian Ngongang Ouankou (Dschang, Cameroon)
Partner at the University of Cologne: PD Dr. Filomain Nguemo (Faculty of Medicine Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology)
Africa is witnessing a dramatic epidemiological transition, adding non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, to the burden of infectious diseases.
The ultimate consequence of these pathologies is the occurrence of cardiac arrest, and often resuscitation techniques are not well mastered by the staff or, worse, by the population. However, there are innovations for improving organs through the use of cell cultures, which provides considerable hope for humanity. These cell culture techniques are entirely unavailable in our region, yet they hold the promise of future cure.
Objectives
Our project aims to mobilize two experts: one in cell culture and another in Physiology and Cardiology, who is also responsible for a Skill’lab Laboratory currently being implemented at the University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Two aims activities of the project are:
- Dr. Ouankou's training stay at the University of Cologne for Cell Culture, Skills Lab, and Cardiology Competence Laboratories at the University of Cologne is at the forefront in these fields
- Visit of PD. Dr. Filomain Nguemo at the University of Dschang for hand-on training and workshop on cell culture techniques and their importance in regenerative medicine and drug discovery.
Project Steps
The project will be carried out in two phases.
The first phase will involve welcoming Dr. NGONGANG OUANKOU Christian, a lecturer of Cardiology and Physiology at the University of Dschang, to the University of Cologne. Specifically, this phase will include:
- Visiting the Cell Culture Laboratory to start his familiarization with this technique and, more importantly, to understand its subtleties; this will be a crucial moment for the transfer of skills, particularly in cardiac cell culture.
- Visiting the Skill’s Lab to better conceive and implement the Skill’ Lab at Dschang (specifically regarding Life support and medical procedures).
- Visiting the Electrophysiology and Cardiac Ultrasound Laboratories to observe the advancements in Cardiology compared to the practices in Dschang.
The second phase will bring PD Dr. NGUEMO Filomain, an expert in cell culture, to the University of Dschang to explain the steps of cell culture techniques to the students. He will demonstrate in the Laboratory the procedures for sampling and stem cell culture techniques.
Conclusion
This project will improve the research skills and research-based learning and education of students and trainer of the University of Dschang. The study and research programs of the University of Dschang will been reviewed in term of the content and in term of the teaching and evaluation (theoretical and practical) processes. Thus, the Dschang University will implement a curriculum of human medicine and Stem cell at its Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences according to the local and international context and the state of the science. In Dschang Hospital, which served as university clinic, follow outcome is expected: (i) Implementation of approaches learn in Cologne in Skills Lab, using a continuous programme linked to the Medical faculty, (ii) establishment of a cardiology unit with an intensive care unit, an echocardiographic lab as well as implement the module of cardiac catheter.
The workshop in Dschang will provide an update on the most recent advancements in stem cells research and its importance for regenerative medicine, new medication development and testing. It will also be benefit for students and trainers and will lead to an improvement in the quality of education and research involved cell culture at the University of Dschang. The University of Cologne will further develops its expertise in curriculum development and research within a development country, using the example of sub-Saharan Cameroon.
Dr. Christian Ngongang Ouankou
Dr. Christian Ouankou is a scholar affiliated with the University Teaching Hospital of Yaounde and the University of Dschang. He is completing his PhD in Human Physiology at the University of Douala. He has held positions as a Lecturer and Assistant Lecturer in Cardiology and Physiology at the University of Dschang.
Having earned his MD with distinction from the University of Yaounde I in 2006, he later received specialized diplomas in Cardiology (2010) and Sport’s Medicine and Biology (2012) from the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar. Additionally, Ouankou completed an MSc in Human Physiology with distinction from the same institution.
He has supervised over 60 MD and 10 Master's theses, published around 40 articles in refereed journals, and delivered over 20 lectures at international conferences in Africa and Europe. Dr. Ouankou's research primarily focuses on cardiology and physiology, contributing significantly to medical science and education.
