Nigeria is set to host the first SPARK Translational Research Bootcamp and Conference in Abuja from February 2 to 6, 2026, as part of a new push to bridge the gap between academic science and healthcare innovation across Africa.
National coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), Dr. Abdu Mukhtar announced the development on Thursday, describing it as a pivotal step toward building Africa’s capacity for locally driven medical breakthroughs.
The event will also mark the formal launch of SPARK Nigeria – an extension of SPARK Global, the initiative established at Stanford University to help researchers transform lab-based discoveries into real-world medical solutions.
Mukhtar said the initiative is championed by PVAC, in collaboration with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and Stanford’s SPARK Global programme.
The five-day boot camp will equip African scientists with practical skills in translational research, entrepreneurship, regulatory navigation and strategic mentorship – areas often lacking in traditional research environments.
“This is not just a conference,” Mukhtar said. “It’s the start of a long-term commitment to create sustainable health innovation across Nigeria and Africa. Through SPARK Nigeria, we’re building a pipeline for local innovation that can power the continent’s health security.”
He said the programme’s core goals include building a national and regional network of SPARK centres, supporting self-sustaining innovation ecosystems, and promoting policies that prioritise local science, research and development.
According to him, while Africa shoulders 25 per cent of the global disease burden, the continent contributes less than two per cent to the world’s health innovation output – a stark imbalance the initiative seeks to correct.
The SPARK model is globally acclaimed for helping researchers overcome the “valley of death,” a stage where promising discoveries often fail due to a lack of funding, mentorship, or market access.
Experts welcomed the launch of SPARK Nigeria as timely and essential, noting that the programme will attract participants from universities, biotech startups, research institutions and health innovation policymakers across Africa.
Organisers are encouraging institutions interested in drug development, translational science and public-private healthcare partnerships to engage with the SPARK Nigeria initiative – touted as a game-changer for home-grown solutions to Africa’s health challenges.
