The National Hospital, Abuja, has entered into a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, USA, to strengthen cancer research and enhance clinical trials in Nigeria.
Signed on Tuesday in Abuja by the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, and the Centre’s Director, Dr. Robert Winn, the partnership aims to develop sustainable collaboration in oncology, focusing on clinical trials, education, and training of future scientists.
Dr. Winn highlighted the success in the U.S., where cancer-related deaths have dropped by 36 percent over the past three decades due to advances in clinical trials, expressing hope that similar progress can be achieved in Nigeria and Africa.
The MoU also envisions expanding the collaboration to other Nigerian institutions like the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) to maximize impact nationwide.
Prof. Mahmud described the agreement as a milestone for the National Hospital, which has become a leader in oncology within West Africa. He emphasized that the partnership will accelerate advancements in cancer care and research, benefiting patients across the region.
This collaboration marks a significant step toward improving cancer outcomes in Nigeria through cutting-edge research, capacity building, and enhanced clinical care.
