Baylor, Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection and others collaborate to advance health in Africa

Baylor College of Medicine, the Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Dassault Systèmes, the Societe Therapeutique Marocaine (SOTHEM) laboratory, and Regenlab recently convened to sign a memorandum of understanding in Had Soualemm, Morocco. This public-private partnership will accelerate innovative drug development practices and clinical trials in Morocco and other parts of Africa.

Under this memorandum, Baylor will support the partnership by providing guidance for the establishment of clinical trial infrastructure and high-quality clinical research, along with providing support for the design, implementation and management of a hospital and health system in the region.

"This landmark partnership will scale up drug production, beginning with critical cancer drugs that are in short supply in this region,” said Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, vice president of Baylor Global Health and leader of Baylor’s efforts under this memorandum. “Global healthcare today requires nimble and innovative approaches. By leveraging digital health resources, decentralized clinical trials and public private partnerships, we can address critical drug and vaccine shortages and delivery to underserved regions that lack this capacity.”

Baylor’s work with Morocco began in 2022, through an educational collaboration with L'Université Mohammed VI des Sciences de la Sante in Casablanca and lead to an ongoing case conference series between the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery and Morocco.

“Baylor College of Medicine is excited to further strengthen our relationship with Morocco,” said Baylor President, CEO and Executive Dean Dr. Paul Klotman. “With this memorandum, we are addressing a critical healthcare need in this region and beginning a new chapter in Baylor’s efforts to expand our reach within Africa.”

Baylor Global Health was founded in 2014 to govern all international programs between the College and institutions in partner countries and has provided education, research, training and patient care to six continents in more than 50 countries including Brazil, Colombia, India and Botswana.