EL Sahaara – The Mycetoma Digital Space Repository
In Sudanese folklore, “El Sahaara” symbolises a storage compartment used traditionally to safeguard valuable items, evoking protection and preservation. This perfectly mirrors the mission of the EL Sahaara Digital Space Repository, which securely stores and preserves the Mycetoma Research Center (MRC) invaluable research outcomes. Like the folklore, the repository protects and shares this knowledge, ensuring global accessibility while preserving it for future generations.
EL Sahaara, the Mycetoma DSpace Repository will serve as a vital digital archive for the MRC, offering an organised platform for the preservation and dissemination of research and publications. Built on the open-source DSpace platform, this repository allows for efficient management and sharing of digital content, empowering researchers, healthcare professionals, and policy-makers with easy access to a wealth of mycetoma-related knowledge.
EL Sahaara houses an extensive collection of scientific papers, clinical trial data, case studies, reports, and theses, representing the full spectrum of mycetoma research and clinical insights. By making these materials available to a global audience, it fosters an environment of open access, which plays a critical role in the democratisation of knowledge. Researchers, students, and even patients will be able to access and utilise the data freely, facilitating learning, enhancing clinical practice, and inspiring new research initiatives.
This platform also encourages global collaboration. By providing an easily navigable archive that transcends geographic boundaries, the repository opens the door for international partnerships aimed at advancing mycetoma research. Researchers from around the world can contribute their findings, compare data, and work together to tackle the challenges associated with this NTD. Through these collaborations, the development of improved treatment protocols and new diagnostic tools will accelerate, benefiting patients in both endemic and emerging regions.
Furthermore, EL Sahaara ensures the long-term preservation of essential data and research outputs. This feature is particularly important in an era where digital information can be lost or corrupted over time. The repository’s infrastructure guarantees that valuable research remains intact and accessible for future generations of scientists, clinicians, and policy-makers. The long-term archiving capabilities not only safeguard critical information but also allow for continuous updates, making it a living repository that evolves as new discoveries emerge.
EL Sahaara is a transformative tool for advancing global mycetoma research. Offering open access broadens the reach of critical knowledge, promotes international collaboration, strengthens global partnerships, and ensures long-term preservation. It secures the future of mycetoma research and treatment innovation. Through this platform, the MRC solidifies its role as a leader in the global fight against mycetoma, providing essential resources for the scientific community and beyond.
Search Functionality
Users can explore the repository via an intuitive search and browse interface. The search engine will offer both basic and advanced options:
- Basic Search: A simple search bar allowing users to enter keywords, author names, or topics related to mycetoma.
- Advanced Search: Filters that enable precise searching by year of publication, author, institution, and topic (e.g., diagnostics, treatment, clinical trials).
Browse Options:
El Sahaara content is organised into the following categories for efficient browsing:
- Year: Users can browse by year of publication to track the evolution of research and innovations in mycetoma treatment and understanding.
- Authors: Alphabetical listing of contributing authors, allowing users to find specific researchers and explore their body of work.
- Topics: Content categorised by research focus areas such as epidemiology, clinical case studies, pathology, drug resistance, and public health impact.
Public and Restricted Collections:
Public Collections: Open-access research papers, articles, case studies, and educational materials are freely available to everyone.
Restricted Collections: Certain collections may only be accessible to authorised users, such as collaborating researchers, MRC staff, or clinical partners, ensuring the security of sensitive or unpublished data.
Login for Researchers and Collaborators:
Registered researchers and MRC collaborators will be able to log in to the platform to:
- Upload and download publications, datasets, or case reports to the repository.
- Update existing entries with new follow-up data or corrections.