U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome joined Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moncef Boukthir today for the signing of the USD $5 million Tunisian Health Center for University Research Excellence & Sustainability (CURES) project. The U.S. government-funded agreement between the University of Sfax and Johns Hopkins University will support the creation of a modern research and simulation center that will give doctors and researchers the resources necessary to identify, prevent and treat non-communicable diseases. The multi-year project will also generate joint partnerships between the private sector and the University of Sfax to commercialize cutting-edge health sector technologies developed in Tunisia. The CURES project exemplifies the U.S Embassy’s commitment to promoting research, innovation and economic growth through linkages between high-caliber universities in Tunisia and the United States.
U.S. Embassy Tunisia Launches $5 Million Research and Simulation Center at the Sfax Faculty of Medicine
January 21, 2021
U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia Donald Blome and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moncef Boukthir launched today the $5 million U.S. funded Tunisian Health Center for University Excellence and Sustainability (CURES) project at the Sfax Faculty of Medicine. This research and simulation project will make Sfax a center of medical excellence by offering doctors and researchers the technological innovation necessary to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
Responding to a critical need within the Tunisian healthcare system, this innovative three-year project, builds partnerships between the University of Sfax and U.S. academic research centers to facilitate the exchange of innovation and research. The project will also enable the University of Sfax to establish links with the private sector to promote and commercialize locally developed health technologies.
In a ceremony attended by the project’s main partner, John Hopkins University, FHI360, the project’s implementing partner, signed memoranda of understanding with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the University of Sfax.
Ambassador Remarks
Good morning. I would like to thank Minister of Health Ali Mrabet and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moncef Boukthir for joining me today. I would also like to acknowledge our partners at the Sfax Faculty of Medicine and welcome representatives from John Hopkins University, who are here with us today from Baltimore, Maryland.
These partnerships exemplify the U.S Embassy’s ongoing commitment to research and innovation to make long-term improvements in Tunisia’s health sector.
Today, we launch the 5-million-dollar Tunisian Health Center for University Research Excellence & Sustainability project, also known as CURES. This project will make Sfax a center of medical excellence by giving doctors and researchers the necessary resources to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It will also facilitate partnerships between the Sfax Faculty of Medicine and the private sector to foster locally-developed health sector technologies.
The CURES project comes at a critical time. The pandemic has taught us the incredible importance of medical research. In the last two years, the whole world has relied on scientists’ expertise to develop lifesaving vaccines.
The United States stands hand in hand with Tunisia in the fight against COVID-19. To date, the U.S. Embassy has provided 46 million dollars to Tunisia to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. As the single largest donor to COVAX, we have donated close to 2.5 million vaccines to Tunisia since July. We have also donated 486 vaccine refrigerators and freezers to ensure vital vaccines reach both cities and small communities across Tunisia.
But COVID is not the only health challenge we face, and we must continue to fund important research in the fight against NCDs, including cancer and diabetes. The CURES project gives doctors the innovative tools to prevent and treat these diseases.
I’m proud the U.S. government is able to help the Sfax Faculty of Medicine become a regional hub for research and innovation. Thank you.
