Establishing a data-driven oncology research ecosystem in sub-Saharan Africa: The Medserve-LUTH Cancer Centre (MLCC) research unit experience

Background: Sustainable cancer research capacity is critical to advancing evidence-based oncology in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Historically, Africa has contributed less than 2% of global cancer research output, largely due to inadequate infrastructure, fragmented data systems, and limited clinical research training. The Medserve-LUTH Cancer Centre (MLCC) Research Unit, established in 2020 in Lagos, Nigeria, was designed as a translational research hub within a high-volume clinical environment to bridge this gap through coordinated clinical studies, data science integration, and workforce development. Methods: The MLCC Research Unit implements a hybrid academic-industry model incorporating electronic data capture, protocol-driven registries, and cross-disciplinary training. The unit supports investigator-initiated and multicentre studies across all oncologic speciality areas, with a common focus on radiation oncology. Emerging areas of innovation have included pediatric radiation oncology, hypofractionated radiotherapy and financial navigation. Key operational metrics including active studies, research personnel, partnerships, and outputs were analysed to assess growth and impact between 2020 and 2025. Results: Since inception, the MLCC Research Unit has supported 73 ongoing or completed studies spanning clinical, operational, and implementation research. The team has expanded from 2 to 14 trained personnel, including 5 research associates, 7 research assistants and 2 interns. Collaborative partnerships were established with institutions in over 18 countries, and passive collaborations with 207+ international academic partners, facilitating data sharing and joint publications. 127 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 118 conference abstracts have been produced. Research data generated at MLCC have contributed to regional literature, radiotherapy policy discussions, regional clinical trials (e.g., HYPOAfrica, ARETTA), and national and regional pediatric oncology protocols. Integration of internal quality-assurance audits was initiated in 2021 to improve data completeness. Conclusion: The MLCC Research Unit demonstrates that structured, locally led oncology research ecosystems can thrive in LMIC contexts when aligned with clinical workflow and supported by digital infrastructure and capacity-building programs. This model offers a replicable framework for developing sustainable cancer research capacity across sub-Saharan Africa, linking local data generation to global cancer control priorities.