OPERATIONAL APPROACH OF TOZARD
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TOZARD TOZARD operates a research laboratory facility in its headquarters where concepts and prototype solutions are designed by a team of experts and tested for eventual use in disease endemic communities. The laboratory is also equipped with electronic infrastructure that enables our members to communicate and track the performance of development trends for community adopted TOZ disease control on the ground.
As one of the nation’s humanitarian research associations in disease control, TOZARD seeks to establish a platform for sustainable community transformation - taking state-of-the-art knowledge on the fight against TOZ diseases to communities that are endemic for these diseases. TOZARD engages the rural underprivileged communities (through knowledge transfer workshops, field demonstrations and research) and constantly strives to enable them to achieve self-reliance in the fight against TOZ diseases. This approach is intended to enhance the inherent capacity of the community by training people, providing opportunities for hands-on skill development and thus nurturing community leadership in adopting innovative TOZ disease control strategies.
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LABORATORY AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEYS
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TOZARD Research Facility in Bambili-Tubah, Bamenda
Equipment:
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Two PCR machines, 06 different centrifuges, four compound microscopes, one florescence microscope, 2 GPS machines, one PAGE electrophoresis machine and power unit, one microwave oven, one water bath, one ELISA machine, one pH meter, one carbon dioxide incubator, one laminar horizontal flow hood, one stereo microscope, three refrigerators, one -80°C freezer, a LAMP machine, one cooled centrifuge, two photometers, one Nanodrop machine, one BIORAD gel documentation unit, a hot plate rotor, a vortex machine, a big stock of general laboratory consumables, solar energy is installed, etc. A Philanthropist has recently donated to TOZARD a four wheel-drive Land Cruiser car for field operations.
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Collaboration:
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University of Bremen, Germany; University of Tubingen, Germany; University of Bamenda, Cameroon; University of Ndjamena - Tchad; ABU Zaria ACE, Nigeria; and Faculty of Science PG School, University of Buea, Cameroon.
Grants received by TOZARD staff concerning TOZ diseases:
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- DFG German grant: Can onchocerciasis be eliminated? Epidemiological, entomological and parasitological studies in a bovine model in Cameroon in partnership with two German Universities –Co-investigator.
Assessment of emerging livestock ticks and tick-borne disease threats and integrated control strategies in West and Central Africa (WECATiC) CORAF-CSIRO /Australian Government funded 2011. National Project Head/co-investigator.
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- DFG German grant on ‘Analysis of host-parasite cross-talk on the bovine model for human onchocerciasis, O. ochengi.’ In partnership with four German Universities –Co investigator.
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- CIRAD-EMVT DESI grant To study genetic Markers of trypanotolerance 2008 in Doayo cattle from June to August 2008 in Montpellier France– Principal investigator
- Leverhulme Trust Research Grant- on tsetse and trypanosomosis pilot studies in the Adamawa Province Cameroon. Funded by Leverhulme Trust tsetse Research Network (LTTRN). Principal investigator.
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- IFS Competitive Research grant holder No.B/2900-2-2005 for studies on Identification of molecular markers of genetic susceptibility to trypanosomosis in Doayo cattle.-principal investigator.
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- IFS Competitive Research grant holder No.B/2900-1 for studies on ‘are the Namchi cattle trypanotolerant under field natural trypanosomosis vector challenge?’.- Principal investigator.
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-CIRAD-EMVT DESI Montpellier France grant to study genetic Markers of trypanotolerance 2001 in Doayo (Namchi) cattle- principal investigator.
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- WHO 1996 capacity strengthening research grant Number 960365/ to complete Ph.D studies in the United Kingdom on zooprohylaxis & immunological features of Onchocerciasis.