Research capacity development in Malawi: Malcolm Molyneux's role

SummaryMalawi is one of many developing countries conducting research in collaboration with developed countries. These partnerships have facilitated the sharing of ideas, knowledge, technology and resources, as well as developing and strengthening the country's research capacity. Professor Malcolm Molyneux, who recently retired as director of the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust (MLW) clinical research programme, the Wellcome Trust's major overseas programme in Malawi, played a substantial role in developing Malawi's capacity to conduct relevant and competitive clinical research by encouraging and promoting collaboration between clinicians, researchers and sponsors from within Malawi and abroad. Not only have these developments resulted in better patient care in Malawi and beyond, they have also advanced understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of important communicable diseases. This paper discusses Malcolm Molyneux's remarkable contribution to research capacity development in Malawi.