The South African researcher Carmen Pheiffer, doctor in medical biochemistry and deputy director of the Platform for Biomedical Research and Innovation in the Medical Research Council of South Africa, has joined the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) thanks to the program "Science by Women (Ellas investigan) "promoted by the Women for Africa Foundation (FMxA). This is the second year that VHIR participates in this program.During the 6 months of her stay, she will be working together with Dr. David Selva in the http://en.vhir.org/web_vhir/portal1/grup-equip.asp?s=recerca&contentid=186789 Diabetes and Metabolism group led by Dr. Rafael Simó to identify new therapies for the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, two disorders that are rapidly becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa.In particular, her research will focus on studying the therapeutic potential of an autochthonous plant extract from South Africa, for type 2 diabetes. This project is aligned with the national goal of developing African medicines for African diseases. The research is innovative and has the potential to be patented and lead to product development."While at the VHIR, I have the opportunity to learn new techniques and see what research is like in other laboratories, and once I finish here, I hope to transfer all the knowledge and experience acquired to my colleagues in South Africa,"explains Dr. Pheiffer.Dr. Joan Comella, director of the VHIR, emphasizes that "we are convinced that the personal links that are generated with these stays are essential and extraordinary to establish strong institutional ties that lead to permanent collaborations and projects between countries and health systems." According to Dr. Comella, for the VHIR, being part of this project means "that through the excellence of our research we identify and apply new solutions to the health problems of society and contribute to extend them throughout the world. Hence our immense satisfaction to know that, following their stay in Vall d'Hebron, these women researchers will contribute to improving the health of their countries and transform the future of our neighbor, the African continent ".In addition, it should be noted that the financing of the program comes from patronage funds and that the https://www.faigrecerca.org/colabora-vhir-amics.php Amics del VHIR, a group of almost 3,000 people who provide financial support in the center, will allocate an economic contribution to the initiative.Mujeres por áfrica FoundationThe Mujeres por áfrica Foundation (FMxA) was created in 2012 by María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, former vice president of the Spanish government, and aims to contribute to the empowerment of women as key actors for the development of the African continent."Science by Women"The purpose of this program is to promote the leadership of African women within the international scientific and technological community and at the same time to implement the capacity of host research centers in their country of origin. Likewise, "Science by Women" also encourages women to play a fundamental role in the transfer of scientific and technological knowledge in the creation of products and services that can contribute to the social and economic development of Africa.