Nigeria is scheduled to host the inaugural SPARK Translational Research Bootcamp and Conference in February 2026, the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) has announced.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of PVAC, disclosed that the event will take place from February 2 to 6 in Abuja and aims to close the gap between scientific research and healthcare innovation across Africa.
Speaking to the media in Abuja on Thursday, Mukhtar said the event would also mark the official launch of SPARK Nigeria, a new step in Africa’s mission to transform academic research into practical healthcare solutions.
He noted that the initiative is being spearheaded by PVAC in collaboration with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and SPARK Global, a Stanford University-based programme.
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The five-day intensive bootcamp will provide African scientists with hands-on training in translational research, helping them convert lab discoveries into real-world diagnostics, treatments, and healthcare products.
“This marks the beginning of a wider movement to build lasting health innovation capacity in Africa,” Mukhtar said.
“Through SPARK Nigeria, we are creating a pipeline of local innovation that will drive health security in Nigeria and across the continent.”
Mukhtar added that the globally acclaimed SPARK model equips researchers with essential skills in entrepreneurship, mentorship, and regulatory strategy, helping them bridge the critical “valley of death” between scientific discovery and product development.
The core objectives of the SPARK Nigeria initiative include developing local expertise in translational research, establishing a national and regional network of SPARK centres, and supporting a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem.
It also seeks to promote policy frameworks that support local scientific research, innovation, and development in the healthcare sector.
Mukhtar stressed that while Africa carries 25% of the global disease burden, it contributes less than 2% to global health innovation, a disparity the initiative seeks to address.
