In the past, the hospitals worked together on capacity building for research into malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. With support from Erasmus+ outside Europe (KA 107/KA171), they have not only succeeded in strengthening their collaboration, but also in broadening it to other specialisms.
The partners now also collaborate in the fields of ear, nose and throat medicine, anaesthesia, pathology, infectious diseases, genetics, fertility, orthopaedics, surgery, psychiatry and the effects of dietary changes on health.
Start-up grant for growth and innovation
The collaboration consists of capacity exchange between healthcare professionals, joint scientific research and mutual education of medical students. ‘Sometimes start-up grants are needed to take a collaboration to an even higher and broader level,’ says coordinator and internist Quirijn de Mast.
Valuable insights into shared health problems
Collaboration with partner institutions in the global South also offers new insights into shared health problems. Think of the consequences of changing dietary patterns and lifestyles on the development of diseases of affluence, inflammatory diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
De Mast is studying the effect of the transition from a traditional Northern Tanzanian diet to a Western diet on inflammatory processes and the functioning of the immune system in healthy Tanzanians. A publication on this research appeared in Nature Medicine in April 2025. The study showed that diet has a major influence on the immune system and metabolism. A switch from a traditional African diet to a Western diet for just two weeks causes inflammation, reduces the response to pathogens and activates processes that are characteristic of diseases of affluence. Conversely, a traditional diet rich in vegetables, fibre and fermented products has positive effects.
De Mast: “In the Netherlands, urbanisation and lifestyle changes took place some time ago. In Tanzania, where we are conducting our research, we are in the midst of this transition. This offers unique insights into the role of nutrition and lifestyle on health.”
A collaboration with a future
The long-term collaboration between Radboudumc and KCMC shows how international knowledge exchange can contribute to both local and global health challenges. The Erasmus+ programme continues to play a crucial role in strengthening these collaborations.
This article is an updated adaptation of a story previously published by Erasmusplus.