Malawi and Glasgow researchers champion key health partnerships
Published: 11 March 2025
The University of Glasgow welcomed representatives from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences alongside Graeme Dey, Scottish Government Minister for Higher and Further Education
The University of Glasgow welcomed representatives from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and representations from the higher education sector across Scotland, alongside Graeme Dey, Scottish Government Minister for Higher and Further Education, on Monday 10 March, to reinforce the importance of health research partnerships between Scotland and Malawi. Representatives from the Scotland-Malawi Partnership, Scotland’s International Development Alliance (SIDA) and others working in this space were also present.
The visit, which also included Her Excellency Ambassador Justice Agnes Patemba, Deputy High Commissioner of Malawi to the United Kingdom, was hosted by Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Professor Rachel Sandison and Professor Iain McInnes.
The event, which celebrated 20 years of partnership between Scotland and Malawi, brought Scottish and Malawian academic partners together to consider how to expand and deepen our existing connections even further, and what this means for future partnerships among Scottish Higher Education, Scottish Government and Malawi.
The University of Glasgow proudly partners with Kamuzu University of Health Sciences across a number of research areas, sharing knowledge on malaria, cardiovascular disease, vaccines, dental health and more.
The delegation met with University of Glasgow researchers who currently work in Malawi including Professor Katie Hampson, who discussed her work on rabies; Professor Antonia Ho, who spoke about her cross-continent virus research; and Dr Christopher Moxon, who works on malaria research in Malawi. The delegation then travelled to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, to visit the University’s Teaching and Learning Centre.
The University of Glasgow and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences collaborate on a range of endeavours, most notably the Blantyre-Blantyre Project, an equitable partnership to tackle critical global issues around healthcare, medicine and inequalities. Alongside a cutting-edge research facility established largely through Scottish Government support, the Blantyre–Blantyre project has produced a joint healthcare programme to compare the cause of poor health and low life expectancy in Blantyre, Malawi and in the West of Scotland.
The Blantyre-Blantyre research facility in Malawi, which is currently supported by a five-year £1m grant from the Scottish International Development fund, houses state-of-the-art research and diagnostic equipment. The centre hosts researchers and postgraduate students from the global south and the global north, working together on joint research and grant applications, while laboratories provide diagnostic clinical services to local medical schemes.
The Blantyre-Blantyre equitable partnership model is now internationally acclaimed and has helped to shape the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities’ overall approach to equitable partnerships.
The two universities also collaborate on the MalDent Project, aimed at improving dental health across Malawi. The project has already successfully established, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree in Malawi, which the first cohort of students have recently graduated and commenced a one year internship. Construction of a new clinical dental teaching facility on the Blantyre campus of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences is nearing completion.
Additionally, Malawi’s first National Child Oral Health Survey was undertaken in October 2023 and identified a significant burden of untreated dental caries. Now, research work is underway to identify preventive interventions that would be appropriate for testing in Malawian schools drawing on experience within Scotland.
Professor Iain McInnes said: “I was delighted to welcome colleagues from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences to Glasgow to further discuss the vital partnership between our two institutions. The College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences is incredibly proud that our own researchers work in equal partnership with researchers in Malawi to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing global human health, and I am certain our collaboration will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Professor Macpherson Mallewa said: We are happy to visit the University of Glasgow. The partnership between Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the University of Glasgow has been a driving force in advancing health sciences and education through collaborative (research) projects, capacity building, and knowledge exchange. This collaboration has strengthened our institutions and contributed to meaningful improvements in healthcare in our respective countries. We remain committed to deepening our engagement and expanding our shared impact for the future."
Higher Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “Scotland’s continued international research and development partnerships drive lasting change in health, education and research which has an immense impact on communities both locally and globally. I am grateful to our universities for their unwavering support and dedication to these partnerships.
“One of our key partners since the establishment of the Scottish Government’s International Development Programme 20 years ago has been the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi. This collaboration has helped drive profound transformations, from pioneering Malawi’s first dental school to facilitating cutting-edge research.
“We are determined to build on the good work with KUHeS in pushing forward innovations for Malawi and beyond.”
Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 11 March 2025