Dr. Damian Cohall first got involved with ECHORN as a way to explore his interest in hypertension in African ethnic groups. Now, he leads a Yale-TCC pilot project program that not only informs clinical practice where he is based in Barbados but also benefits patients of similar descent outside of a Caribbean setting.

“There was a very good developmental process that was aligned with getting involved in the work of the network which included mentorship and guidance,” said Cohall. “External parties [led] webinars to open your thought process or insights into the project that is being developed [and to] how the information is translatable to medical practice.”

Cohall is deputy dean of preclinical sciences and a senior lecturer in pharmacology at the Universityof the West Indies, Cavehill Barbados. His dean at the university, Dr. Peter Adams, introduced him to the Yale-TCC. Cohall explained that for both of them, roles in leading a project from concept to research are important for completing faculty evaluationrequirements at UWI.

“[The UWI] evaluation process requires staff to...conduct research and participate in university and public service. A project like this [is] remarkably important in allowing me to fulfill some of those categories,” said Cohall. “Itwill allow for opportunities for my academic development which could then materialize into promotional opportunities. Outside of that, it creates a wonderful network [and] taught me to be accountable.”

Cohall was invited to present his work at the TCC seminars or presentations which were held in Bethesda in December of 2018. It gave him an opportunity to not only hear about the work of the Yale-TCC but also about the work of other TCC organizations on precision medicine.

“Just the opportunity to stand there with other centers representing the Caribbean [was] very instrumental in my progress working with the Yale TCC group,” said Cohall. “It shows that what we’re doing sets us within a similar category of other top world-class, leading universities who are a part of these TCCs. That feeling was certainly rewarding coming from a small island state [like] Barbados.”

He also explained that his trip to Bethesda gave him a chance to spend more time with the wider TCC network. Cohall said that as a developing academic in his field, it was rewarding to be able to bring experienced academics and developing academics together and learn from researchers that overcame similar hurdles.

“It’s a family you know, these are people that you meet, you form relationships with, and then it grows,” said Cohall. “It’s not just research. It’s really that family enterprise or network which has allowed for the project to be so successful. Just listening to the similarity of ideas and also the zeal for research and the enthusiasm to do what we do was remarkable.”