In June 2025, the Senegalese government officially inaugurated the Senegalese Center for Medical Biotechnology (SCMB) in Dakar. This first-of-its-kind facility in West Africa aims to strengthen the country’s scientific autonomy and health resilience.
The center is focused on biomedical research, vaccine development, biotherapies, and the training of African scientists.
🏗️ Backed by International Collaboration
Funded with support from the African Union, WHO, European Union, and ECOWAS, the SCMB was built with a $60 million USD budget.
Its objectives are to:
- Reduce dependency on imported drugs and vaccines.
- Stimulate local innovation in public health.
- Attract top researchers, including those from the diaspora.
🧪 High-Tech Labs with Clear Goals
The center includes:
- BSL-3 labs for high-risk pathogen research
- Units focused on malaria, tuberculosis, dengue, and emerging diseases
- An incubator for African healthtech startups
- A master’s program in biotechnology in partnership with Cheikh Anta Diop University
🎯 Toward Health Sovereignty
Senegal’s Health Minister called the SCMB “a historic milestone toward an Africa that heals itself.” The project is part of a broader continental strategy to decentralize innovation and promote locally tailored health solutions.
