# Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital-Bayero University Kano-Vanderbilt: Developing Future Leaders in Child Neurology and Epilepsy Research (ABV)

> **NIH NIH D43** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $248,055

## Abstract

Abstract: Research addressing the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of epilepsy and childhood neurological
disorders, as well as implementation of diagnostic and treatment services, is urgently needed in Africa. The
burden of epilepsy and child neurological disorders in Africa is very high. Neurological syndromes unique to
sub-Saharan Africa have been described, with many more likely awaiting discovery. Currently most children
with treatable neurological disorders in sub-Saharan Africa (e.g., epilepsy) are neither diagnosed nor treated.
Most of the knowledge base childhood neurological disorders is based upon research from North America,
Europe and the Pacific Rim, where the population genomics and environmental causal factors are different from
Africa. Large-scale epidemiology studies, clinical trials, development of diagnostic technologies, and
implementation science research in Africa are required to close this knowledge gap. There are no well-
developed collaboratives of child neurology and epilepsy researchers that cover a large relatively homogenous
population of children in Africa. This project, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH)-Bayero University Kano
(BUK)-Vanderbilt: Developing Future Leaders in Child Neurology and Epilepsy Research (ABV), will build upon
a solid foundation of successful NIH-funded collaborations between Vanderbilt, BUK and AKTH in child
neurology and epilepsy to develop a cadre of physician-scientists in northern Nigeria- a region with a population
of over 100 million people, half of whom are children. Based in Kano, the hub of northern Nigeria, ABV will over
five years provide research training and mentoring for three groups of future research leaders in northern Nigeria:
(1) five ABV Faculty Fellows selected to develop and teach new courses at BUK targeting the needs of future
research leaders in child neurology and epilepsy, under the mentorship of Vanderbilt faculty; (2) eight ABV
Scholars who will complete the MScPH degree at BUK, launching their own research projects co-mentored by
Vanderbilt and AKTH/BUK faculty, and attending the Vanderbilt Institute for Research Development and Ethics,
where they will learn to write, submit and administer their own grants; and, (3) eight ABV Executive Scholars,
mid-career physician-investigators who will devote half-time for up to two years to enhance their skills in an area
of child neurology or epilepsy research, working under a mentor and taking selected courses at BUK . ABV
Scholars and ABV Executive Scholars will be recruited from not only Kano, but also from sister institutions in the
other major cities within northern Nigeria – Zaria, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Katsina, and Sokoto. A yearly Child
Neurology and Epilepsy Congress will be launched in Year 3 as a regional conference highlighting the work of
the ABV Fellows, Scholars, and Executive Scholars, with plans to expand to an Africa-wide conference by Year
5. The ABV alumni will form a collaborative network across northern ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10483187
- **Project number:** 5D43TW011949-02
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Edwin Trevathan
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $248,055
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10483187

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10483187, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital-Bayero University Kano-Vanderbilt: Developing Future Leaders in Child Neurology and Epilepsy Research (ABV) (5D43TW011949-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10483187. Licensed CC0.

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