Academic Staff
Dr. Foster Kyei
Dr. Foster Kyei is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Cape Coast (UCC). Trained in the United Kingdom, he holds a Ph.D and MSc. in Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology respectively. He is a Molecular Medicine specialist who applies physical, chemical, biological, bioinformatics and medical techniques to:
- describe molecular mechanisms of diseases
- identify fundamental molecular and genetic errors of diseases
- develop molecular interventions to correct diseases
He is engaged in teaching and research and his expertise spans across ways to diagnose and treat diseases by understanding the way genes, proteins, and other cellular molecules work. His work is not limited in scope; he also applies molecular techniques and tools in all areas of the life sciences. One of his major research themes focuses on investigations into colon cancer, specifically the:
- development of molecular markers for colon cancer diagnostics
- transcriptional network in colon cancer and
- molecular mechanisms in colon cancer tumorigenesis
His current research looks at CRISPR/Cas9 Technology for Human Genome Engineering and Disease Research. Foster has successfully supervised, mentored, and graduated a significant number of undergraduates, MPhil and Ph.D students. He has been involved in postgraduate Theses assessments locally in UCC and externally for the Kwame University of Science and Technology. He serves on local committees in the School of Biological Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, UCC. His research initiatives have attracted much attention; resulting in a research collaboration and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Cape Coast and the University of West Indies. Foster is also in research collaboration with Kwazulu-Natal University into finding potent indigenous plant compounds as alternatives to Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Foster is also an adjunct lecturer for postgraduate courses at the Pan African University and the Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Science and Technology.
Foster is involved in undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum development and writing and actively reviews curriculum/academic programs for the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission(GTEC). He is an astute reviewer for the “Molecular Medicine Reports” Journal. Foster is a member of prestigious professional bodies such as the Ghana Science Association, the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the American Society for Cancer Research. He is the immediate past Departmental Registration and Examinations Officer (DREO) for the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, UCC.
.
Dr. Anthony Craig
Dr. Craig has been working in the field of gene therapy since 1996. He has worked primarily with adenoassociated virus (AAV) vectors. Currently, he is a lecturer in the Gene Therapy graduate program at the Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Research. He considers it an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to teach in Ghana.
Dr. Craig’s first project involved investigating the use of AAV to treat sickle cell disease at the Howard University Center for Sickle Cell Disease (Washington, D.C.) with Dr. Siego Ohi. From there, Dr. Craig went to the Clinical Gene Therapy Branch of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (Bethesda, MD). At the NHGRI, Dr. Craig worked with Dr. Jay Lozier and Dr. Richard Morgan to investigate using AAV to treat hemophilia A by placing the coding regions of the light and heavy chains from the factor VIII gene into separate AAV vectors. This was the same laboratory where the first successful gene therapy clinical trial was completed by treating ADA deficiency with a recombinant retroviral vector. It was at the NHGRI where Dr. Craig became familiar with multiple types of viral gene therapy vectors and their potential use for treating a broad range of diseases.
For his doctoral research, Dr. Craig worked with Dr. Roland Owens in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Branch of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the NIH. At the NIDDK, Dr. Craig found positive results using AAV to transfer immunosuppressive genes to harvested
tissue prior to transplantation. He also experimented with the possibility of including the rep gene in AAV vectors.
Dr. Craig received his medical and doctoral degrees from the M.D./Ph.D. program at Howard University College of Medicine in the Department of Genetics and Human Genetics. His mentor was Dr. Verle Headings. He has done residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale School of Medicine and New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Currently, he is the Founder, President, and CEO of Genesis Biotechnologies with offices in the USA and Accra, Ghana. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Howard University.
Dr. Michael Yakass
Michael B. Yakass (PhD), is a consultant certified clinical embryologist with over a decade experience in running IVF labs. He received his BSc (Hons) in Medical Laboratory Technology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2008. In 2012, he graduated with MSc in Chemical Pathology in KNUST. In 2020, he obtained his PhD from the University of Ghana with a joint extensive research work performed at the Katholieke University of Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium. Dr Yakass became a certified clinical embryologist by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in 2015 which qualified him to practise as a certified embryologist mostly in Europe and across the world.
Between 2012 and 2022, Dr Yakass led the embryology team at the Lister Hospital and Fertility Centre in Accra where he was involved in many groundbreaking achievements in the fertility industry in country. Whiles at the lister, he was involved in the first laser-assisted embryo hatching technique in Ghana. He was involved in establishing and running the first embryo biopsy and pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) program in Ghana at the Lister Hospital and Fertility centre. He has trained and mentored a number of clinical embryologists at the Lister hospital.
Dr Yakass is also a trained virologist with extensive research experience in virology which places him as one of very few people with the dual combination of clinical embryology and virology experience. During his PhD, he worked on many viruses of clinical importance such as arboviruses. He was involved in the development of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate built on the yellow fever vaccine platform during his PhD years in KU Leuven.
In 2017, he was selected as one of five young ambassadors (the ESHRE5), for the ESHRE conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where he played key roles in promoting the latest cutting edge scientific findings in the field of reproductive health during the society’s annual conference.
Dr Yakass is the scientific lead at Nurture Fertility Consult and actively involved in establishing new fertility clinics, training clinical embryologists and consulting for many established fertility clinics in Ghana and across Africa. He is a lecturer at the Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Science and Technology in Accra, Ghana where he handles courses such as Mammalian reproduction, andrology and early embryogenesis. His research interests focus on improving in vitro human embryo development and how microbes breach physiological barriers such as the placenta to establish infections. In 2022, Dr Yakass was selected for the Global Virus Network (GVN) Rising Stars post-doctoral fellowship program to initiate his research mainly focusing at the crossroads of human reproduction and infectious diseases. Dr Yakass has authored and co-authored several published peer-reviewed research articles and a book chapter on treating virus infected patients in IVF.
Dr. Kristina Talbert-Slagle
Dr. Talbert-Slagle is an Assistant Professor of General Internal Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, a Core Faculty member at the Equity Research and Innovation Center, and an Associate Director at the Yale Institute for Global Health. She is a global health scholar and educator, focused on addressing global health and educational disparities through high-quality, interactive teaching and locally-appropriate and responsive scholarship and field programs. With doctoral training in genetics and virology and postdoctoral training in complex systems and global health management, Dr. Talbert-Slagle approaches her work, teaching, and mentorship through an interdisciplinary perspective.
Dr. Talbert-Slagle is part of a long-standing, trusting partnership with colleagues from the University of Liberia and Liberian Ministry of Health to establish permanent academic programs and systems to fulfill Liberia’s goals for strengthening its health workforce. She is the principal investigator for Applying Research for a Healthy Liberia, a five-year, $15 million collaborative project with the University of Liberia and Vanderbilt University, funded by USAID, which will establish a Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, as well as permanent academic and financial management systems at the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences. She is also the faculty director for Health Management and Preclinical Education workforce capacity-building programs in Liberia, collaborating closely with colleagues at Yale and in Liberia, and the Yale lead for an undergraduate medical education curriculum review at Liberia’s only medical school, A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine.
At Yale, she has developed and taught a variety of courses including a gateway global health course for undergraduate students, as well as seminars focused on global health research and practice, HIV/AIDS, and the role of water in infectious disease spread. In 2016, Dr. Talbert-Slagle was honored with the Yale Poorvu Family Award for Interdisciplinary Teaching. Dr. Talbert-Slagle received her B.S. and B.A. degrees from the University of Kentucky and her Ph.D. from Yale University.
Dr. Kristina Talbert-Slagle
Dr. Talbert-Slagle is an Assistant Professor of General Internal Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, a Core Faculty member at the Equity Research and Innovation Center, and an Associate Director at the Yale Institute for Global Health. She is a global health scholar and educator, focused on addressing global health and educational disparities through high-quality, interactive teaching and locally-appropriate and responsive scholarship and field programs. With doctoral training in genetics and virology and postdoctoral training in complex systems and global health management, Dr. Talbert-Slagle approaches her work, teaching, and mentorship through an interdisciplinary perspective.
Dr. Talbert-Slagle is part of a long-standing, trusting partnership with colleagues from the University of Liberia and Liberian Ministry of Health to establish permanent academic programs and systems to fulfill Liberia’s goals for strengthening its health workforce. She is the principal investigator for Applying Research for a Healthy Liberia, a five-year, $15 million collaborative project with the University of Liberia and Vanderbilt University, funded by USAID, which will establish a Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, as well as permanent academic and financial management systems at the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences. She is also the faculty director for Health Management and Preclinical Education workforce capacity-building programs in Liberia, collaborating closely with colleagues at Yale and in Liberia, and the Yale lead for an undergraduate medical education curriculum review at Liberia’s only medical school, A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine.
At Yale, she has developed and taught a variety of courses including a gateway global health course for undergraduate students, as well as seminars focused on global health research and practice, HIV/AIDS, and the role of water in infectious disease spread. In 2016, Dr. Talbert-Slagle was honored with the Yale Poorvu Family Award for Interdisciplinary Teaching. Dr. Talbert-Slagle received her B.S. and B.A. degrees from the University of Kentucky and her Ph.D. from Yale University.
Prof. Ben Adu Gyan
Prof. Ben Adu Gyan PhD, is Associate Professor in Immunology and Microbiology. He received his BSc (Hons) degree in Zoology from the University of Ghana in 1985. In 1994 he graduated with MSc degree in Parasitology from the Karolinska Institute and PhD in Immunology from Stockholm University, Sweden in 2002. Dr. Gyan was appointed Research fellow in 1996. His research career initially started with malaria immunology and later extending to the more general fields of immunology and preclinical research. The key focus of his research over the years is the search for markers or molecules and their mechanisms in the pathogenesis of malaria and other diseases. His background in parasite immunology has provided him with the opportunity to conduct research into a number of endemic tropical diseases as well as non-communicable diseases in Ghana in the advancement of public health. His research has contributed to understanding of the role of endothelial progenitor cells in pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. In the past couple of years Dr. Gyan has extended his interest into studies in preeclampsia, arterial stiffness in diabetes and hypertension due to increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Africa. He has also conducted studies to understand the role of malaria in Burkitts lymphoma which is endemic in malaria transmission areas.
His role in malaria vaccine research include investigator role in the Phase Ib trial of the EBA-175 RII-NG vaccine in Ghana. He is also an investigator/expert and a member of Malaria Vaccine Working Group, a consortium guiding the study development plan for the immunology ancillary studies of the RTSS, S malaria vaccine. He is involved in networking and capacity building in malaria pathogenesis in Africa. The outcome of these initiatives include the establishment of the Malaria Pathogenesis Consortium in 2006. As Coordinator for Internship programs until recently, Dr. Gyan played key roles in training of students and young scientist. He played a key role in the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded postdoctoral training program at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. The programme was the first of its kind in Africa in the training of biomedical research leaders to advance their careers in biomedical research. He is also spearheading the establishment of a Global Health Training Program in at NMIMR. He has 100 peer-reviewed publications to his credit.
Dr. Gyan has been associated with the establishment of Thrivus Institute since its conception. He brings on board several years of experience in postgraduate teaching and mentoring as well as research in biomedical sciences. He sees Thrivus Institute nurturing the next generation of young African scientists who strive to make advances in various fields of translational research and hub in building critical capacity of health professionals in reproductive health and gene therapy.
Dr. David Nana Adjei
Dr. Adjei is a trained biostatistician and a quantitative geneticist. He is currently a Senior Lecturer with the College of Health Sciences in the University of Ghana where he teaches Biostatistics and Research Methods. He has strong quantitative and data management skills spanning 15 years. He develops, maintains, secures, and analyzes big biomedical research data generated for the purpose of basic, applied, translational, genomic and implementation research. He provides statistical support for several consortia. He also serves as the study coordinator for SickleGenAfrica, provides statistical support for H3Africa Kidney Research Network and Research on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) projects. He is the current Co-Chair of the Study Coordinators Working Group of H3Africa consortium. He is also the Chair of the Ethics and Protocol Review Committee of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences of the University. Additionally, he is the Chief Examiner of the Allied Health Professions Council. His key areas of research are modelling of chronic kidney disease in low resource settings among migrants with keen interest in the link between other chronic diseases (sickle cell disease, diabetes, and hypertension) and chronic kidney disease. My experience and expertise in practicing and teaching data management, analysis and renal epidemiology makes me a valuable member of this team. He serves as a CoPI of several NIH and Fogarty grants.
Dr. Adjei holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from KNUST, an MPhil degree in Health Informatics. He also Holds a PhD in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Additionally, he holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from Erasmus University. He specialized in Statistical Genetics from the Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA.
Dr. Charlene F. Barroga
Dr. Barroga is a Molecular & Stem Cell Biologist & Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology, and is a Professional Nonclinical Toxicology & Regulatory Consultant, advising Biopharmaceutical companies on Drug Development and Regulatory requirements according to the ICH guidance and requirements of the US FDA and AUS/Asian Regulatory Agencies. Dr. Barroga was formerly an Executive Director of Nonclinical Development & Pharmacology-Toxicology Division at Samumed (now Biosplice Therapeutics, Inc.), a company she established, leading Drug Development of small molecule drugs in 12 programs in Oncology, Osteoarthritis (OA), Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD), Neurodegenerative Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), and topical diseases like Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA), Tendinopathy and Psoriasis.
She led the discovery/development of 8 INDs (Investigational New Drugs) filed at the US FDA and AUS TGA Regulatory Agencies. Her expertise is in the conduct of nonclinical studies, Risk:Benefit assessment of new small molecule drugs, estimation of potential human risks and safety margins, FIH (first-in-human) dose for clinical trials and authoring/review of Regulatory documents.
Dr. Barroga obtained her Bachelors in Ag Chemistry at the Univ of the Philippines in 1984, graduating cum laude. In her 4th year, spurred by her love of Organic Chemistry and fascination of chemical reactions, Dr. Barroga took courses in Genetics and Molecular Biology to understand more deeply the molecular mechanisms of life. After college and while waiting for opportunities in the US, she taught Biochemistry, General and Organic Chemistry in the Chemistry Department for 2 years, and Biology Lab in the Biology Department.
She went to Purdue University, Indiana, USA to pursue her PhD in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry. After her PhD, she pursued Postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute in San Diego, CA, under Dr. Inder Verma, working on NF-kB/IkB. Around that time (~1994-1996), Drs. Inder Verma and Didier Trono at the Salk Institute were pioneering the use of HIV as lentiviral vectors for Gene Therapy, and they are now known as the Fathers of Gene Therapy. She continued her scientific research at the UCSD School of Medicine & Moores Cancer Center, on HIV molecular pathogenesis and Lentiviral vectors, Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) differentiation, the Wnt signaling pathway and hematologic cancers such as AML, CML, MDS and PV. In 2008, Dr. Barroga established Samumed as Director of Preclinical Biology, developed Samumed’s proprietary assay & discovered the novel kinase targets CLK and DYRK.
In 2012, transitioned as Toxicologist and was Board-certified by the American Board of Toxicology in 2019. Dr. Barroga is a scientist with over 25 years of research on molecular mechanisms of signaling, stem cell biology and drug development. She is an executive leader in the pharmaceutical industry. She is a prolific author and inventor, with several scientific research papers and several patents.
Isaac Kofi Adu
Isaac Kofi Adu is the Chief Clinical embryologist at the ‘THE CHOSEN HOSPITAL AND FERTILITY CENTRE LTD’ Accra and KMC Fertility Unit Ltd Kumasi. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Biology from University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. He went to Ahmedabad, India for Embryology Training at RAJJUU BANKER FOUNDATION. He Worked at Trust care Specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre in Kumasi for a decade. Later, he pursued master of Philosophy degree (MPhil) in Reproductive Physiology from KNUST School of Medical Sciences.
He is a member of the following associations: Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Ghana Association of Clinical Embryologists (GACE), Fertility Society of Ghana, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology, Fertility Society of India, Fertility Society of Africa and South Africa.
He is currently working as director of the following companies: (Emvryo-Mitra Medical Services Ltd ACCRA, THE CHOSEN HOSPITAL AND FERTILITY CENTRE LTD, Accra, KMC Fertility Unit LTD, Kumasi. He is a a PhD student in Human embryology at Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Science and Technology, SRC President and student representative on the Thrivus Governing Concil
Dr. Kenneth Frimpong
A renowned oriented biotechnical professional, clinical embryologist and forensic DNA expert. He is the founder and CEO of ‘The City of Hope’ Medical Complex, a multispecialty medical and research facility with a vision to providing world class molecular medicine in Ghana and West Africa.
The Centre focuses on infertility, oncology, sickle cell and diabetes. As the Lead Embryologist for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), he trains supervises assistant embryologist as well as supervising scientists for ICSI, embryo biopsy and genetic analyses.
He was the Consultant, Forensic Science Laboratory, Ghana Police Service (2010 – 2013) providing consultative technical expertise on genetics, DNA and molecular forensics to the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory and to the Police Administration. Among others, he led the recruitment, training and supervision of managers and technicians for the DNA Fingerprinting Laboratory; provided expertise on the technical layout, furnishing and equipping of the DNA Fingerprinting laboratory; trained all DNA Analysts of the Forensic Science Laboratory of the Ghana Police Service among others.
Dr. Frimpong was also an Adjunct Lecturer, Human Biology, University of Cape Coast (2010). Among his experience, he is also the Founder and CEO, Scientellect DNA and Medical Laboratory (2008 – present). Scientellect is a genetic and DNA diagnostics company providing prenatal genetic screening and DNA services to hospitals, universities and research organizations in Ghana and the West Africa sub-region. They partnered with Tema Women’s Hospital to conduct the first diagnostic DNA Prenatal Sickle Cell Test in Ghana. Other services include paternity tests for the Judiciary Services of Ghana.
As Research and Development Manager (2002 – 2007) at Invitrogen Corporation, Dr. Frimpong was responsible for hiring, training, supervision, development and retention of scientific staff. He actively directed technology strategies and co-directed product placement strategies.
He holds a Certificate in “Hands on Training in ART’ (2014) from the Embryology Academy for Research and Training, Mumbai, India; Fellow, Virology and Gene Therapy Vectors, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine (1998 – 2002); Post-doctoral Fellow, Virology and Gene Therapy Vectors (1993/94, 1997/98). Other qualifications include Ph.D. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program (1993) from Purdue University, USA; a BA, Biology (1986) from Brandeis University, USA.
Dr. Eumorphia Remboutsika
Dr. Eumorphia Remboutsika was born in Athens, Greece. She obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA and B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Patras. She is a Stem Cell Biology and Epigenetics expert and has conducted extensive research internationally, including founding the first Stem Cell Biology Laboratory and Stem Cell Facility at the Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming” in Athens, Greece in 2003-2010 (https://tess.elixir-europe.org/content_providers/biomedical-sciences-research-center-alexander-fleming) and was a collaborating Researcher B’ at the Horemio Research Center of the Medical School of Athens (1st Pediatric Clinic) at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2010-2020. Dr. Remboutsika has also conducted research at the Francis Crick Institute (formerly NIMR) in UK and at the IGBMC (Institute de Genetique et de biologe moleculare et celluare (Institute in Genetics, Molecular and Cell Biology, https://www.igbmc.fr/en/) in France.
Currently, Dr. Remboutsika is a Researcher B’ (Associate Professor Level) at the University Research Institute of Maternal & Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Medical School in Athens, Greece and the Scientific Advisor for Innovation on Stem Cell technologies and applications of Brainz Bioscience Company based in Nurenberg, Germany. She is also SET-Routes University Ambassador in the EMBO-EMBL-CERN Women in Science Program and a Scientific Board Member of the ITERA-Life Sciences Council. Dr. Remboutsika’s research aims to understand the way cells establish and maintain stemness in space during developmental-biological timelines, aiming for their activation de novo and in situ for regenerative and precision medicine.
Dr. Remboutsika was intimately involved in the clinical evaluation of the rapid Covid19 diagnostics and provided expert advice to private and governmental organizations for the accurate diagnosis of the SARS-COV2 coronavirus during the global COVID19 pandemic. She has numerous international patents and is an author of several original peer-reviewed scientific publications and is as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Physiology and on Genetics and Cell & Developmental Biology (Stem Cell Section). Dr. Remboutsika is also speaker, organizer and chairman of various international conferences, and serves as a reviewer of several grant applications.
Dr. Remboutsika is also an Adjunct Professor at the Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Science and Technology in Accra, Ghana. She is a member of the Ethics Committee, Scientific and Technical committee and Special Lectures committee and gives Special Instructions to Thrivus students.
She served as an instructor in the Postgraduate Programs in Neurosciences (University of Crete, Medical School) and Molecular Medicine (NKUA, Medical School) and currently as an instructor in the Molecular Mechanisms of Human Diseases (Department of Biology, NKUA). She has served as an instructor in Undergraduate Programme in Biomedical Sciences (Department of Medical Laboratories, University of West Attica).
Dr. Remboutsika founded “Leap Forward Initiative”, an innovative and proprietary mentorship program focused on holistic thought and career development based on cognitive and stress management for teenagers and adults alike.
Dr Charles Brown
Dr C.A. Brown is a Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana (UG), Korle bu Campus. He has a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry with Chemistry and MPhil in Biochemistry. He obtained his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Ghana in 2004.
Dr Brown has spent most of his working life as a lecturer and researcher. At the post-graduate level some of the courses he handles include Advanced Critical Review, Advanced Research Methods and Nutrigenomics. He has successfully supervised several PhD (Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology, Dietetics), MPhil and MSc (Biochemistry, Dietetics, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Microbiology) and BSc students.
Dr Brown served as acting Head (August, 2008 to July, 2011) and then Head (August, 2011 – July, 2013), at Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, (UG). He was very instrumental in the setting up and running of the Department’s MSc programme.
Dr Brown has been involved in several extension activities. He was a consultant molecular biologist for the Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo for over 10 years. He was part of the Ghana Covid-19 Laboratory Network, National Quality Assessment Panel. He has served as a resource person for curriculum development in MPhil /PhD Medical Molecular Genetics programmes (West African Genetic Medicine Centre), Biochemistry/Molecular Biology/Human Genetics (University of Allied Health Sciences), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Family Health Medical School), and MPhil/PhD Gene Therapy and MPhil /PhD Human Embryology (Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Science and Technology). He is reviewer for Acta Tropica and Parasites and Vectors journals. In addition, he has attended and contributed to many conferences and workshops on Molecular Bioinformatics, both locally and internationally.
Dr Brown has several publications, majority of which are on malaria, to his credit. His current interests are in malaria molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics, and genetics of obesity and diabetes.
Dr. Janet Matanguihan
Dr. Seidu Abdulai Mahmood
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Higher National Certificate – UWE (medical Laboratory Science)
- Bachelor of Science – UWE (Biomedical science – Cellular Pathology)
- Master of Philosophy – UG (pathology)
- Doctor of Philosophy – UG (Pathology)
RESEARCH INTEREST:
- Cytogenetics – Molecular detection of genetic diseases in molecular pathology
- Parasite and tissue relation studies using immunohistochemical techniques
- Technical reviews on various histochemical techniques. Involves histological stains, Immunohistochemistry, enzyme histochemistry and in-situ hybridization.
- Development and investigations of natural product as dyes for special stains
- Drug toxicology in which various potential drugs are studied histologically for adverse effects on body organs.
- Aquatic pathology to explore the effect of pollutants in water bodies on fish and other.
MAJOR RESEARCHES UNDERTAKEN
- Antigen retrieval in Immunohistochemistry – A critical review of current methods of antigen retrieval for immunohistochemical techniques
- Seasonal Intermittent Preventive Treatment for the Prevention of Anaemia and Malaria in Ghanaian Children – A randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial on children to Investigate the effect of intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine or artesunate plus amodiaquine on anaemia and malaria in children.
- Assessment of the viability of adult O. volvulus in tissue sections using enzyme histochemical demonstration of LDH activity.
- Studies on energy pathways available to adult O. volvulus using Immunohistochemical techniques
- African Women and Cervical Cancer – To determine the incidence and HPV types predominant in African cervical cancers.
- DEC patch test for onchocerciasis infection – As an early detection of Onchocerciasis
- Safety and efficacy of combination Therapy with Ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole (IDA) for individuals with onchocerciasis.
- Imaging Studies on testing the Viability of Onchocerca volvulus phase II.