Session 1: 16:50 – 17:05
The Mycetoma Research Centre, University of Khartoum
Volition Is the Seed of Success

Ahmed Hassan Fahal, MBBS, MS, MD, FRCS, FRCSI, FRCS(G), FRCP (London),
FRCPath. .

Short CV

(Director, Mycetoma Research Center, University ofKhartoum, Soudan)

Prof. Fahal trained in medicine at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. He then pursued his post-graduate
surgical training in Khartoum and London, leading to a consultant surgeon position at Soba University
Hospital and a professor of Surgery, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Prof. Fahal is the founding Director of the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC), University of Khartoum.
He is a high volume researcher in mycetoma, has published and presented extensively his original researchin mycetoma has become a world reference. He published more than 230 peer-reviewed articles and edited
a book on mycetoma and many textbooks' chapters, booklets and clinical guidelines in a number of themesin surgery, mycetoma and medical education.
One of his major achievements, he in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Sudan and otherorganizations, has managed to include Mycetoma as Neglected Tropical Disease at the WHO/NTD list in
2016; Resolution no. 69:21. He is currently a Member of the WHO/NTD Diagnostic Technical Advisory
Group (DTAG), Skin NTDs subgroup, Geneva.
With his team at the MRC, he is currently conducting the first-ever double-blind clinical trial study on a
new treatment for Mycetoma and the first study on a Mycetoma field-friendly point-of-care diagnostic testfor Mycetoma.
He has served as the Director of Educational Development Centre for Medical & Health Professionals,
University of Khartoum. He was the Founding Director of the Self Evaluation and Quality Enhancement
Administration, University of Khartoum, and the University of Khartoum Academic Secretary.
He is currently the President of the Scientific Research and Innovation Agency, Ministry of Higher
Education & Scientific Research, Sudan and advisor for the Minister of Higher Education and Scientificresearch, the Republic of Sudan.

Abstract
The Mycetoma Research Center (MRC), University of Khartoum, is one of its kind globally. It started as asmall clinic at Khartoum Teaching Hospital in 1991. Then it moved to Soba University Hospital as a small
research unit at the annexe of the abandoned endoscopy suite consisting of three bedded ward, a small sidelaboratory and an office. Then it moved to a dedicated place, and it gradually progressed to a cutting edge
international center dedicated to high-quality patient care and research, devoted community engagement
activities and excellent professional training and development.
The MRC journey was challenging, tough and exciting with zero budget, meagre experience, and deficientcollaboration as mycetoma is the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases nationally andworldwide.
Now the MRC has dedicated expert staff, numerous national and international links, a super research
infrastructure. It has two sister centers in highly endemic villages where patients are seen and managed
locally, community engagement activities are conducted, health education is conveyed.
It conducted the first-ever double-blind clinical trial on a new mycetoma treatment. It collaborated with 23
international research centres and NGOs, produced more than 250 scientific articles, and qualified morethan 30 post-graduate students.
MRC has established EL Hassan Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Clinical Trials with outstanding
facilities. Moreover, it had established the Mycetoma Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Centrewith the aims to create an enabling environment for the mycetoma amputees and disabled persons to learn
and develop income-generating skills, perform and upgrade their talents, and be prepared to lead a newlife of being productive, self-reliant and confident.
The MRC is presently the only WHO Collaborating Centre on Mycetoma, world authority of mycetoma
management and research due to its staff dedication, commitment, devotion, enthusiasm, clear vision andobjectives, and determination. We believe on Volition is the Seed of Our success