Professor Terrence Forrester, Director of the Tropical Medicine Research Institute (TMRI) at The University of the West Indies, Mona was among the honourees at the first Anthony N Sabga ‘Caribbean Awards for Excellence’ launched by the Ansa McAl Foundation with the aim of encouraging the pursuit of excellence by Caribbean people for the benefit of the region. The gala award ceremony took place recently at the Hilton Trinidad Hotel in Port-of-Spain.

As Director of TMRI Professor Forrester has the main responsibilities of coordinating research on priority health issues in the Caribbean and facilitating the uptake of research findings into policy and programmes. The Institute is also involved in providing training at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and operates a postdoctoral fellowship programme. The Tropical Medicine Institute (TMRI), one of the units of Tropical Medicine Research Unit (TMRU) was established on October 1, 1999 by the University of the West Indies to increase the output of research in major areas affecting the health of regional peoples, increase the number of trained research scientists working in health and to facilitate the uptake of research into policy, programmes and practice, thereby contributing to improvement in the health status of Caribbean peoples.
The Tropical Medicine Research Unit established in 1956 will also have its fiftieth Anniversary celebration Conference from Wednesday, November 22 to Friday, November 24.