Home institution:  

University of Buea, Cameroon. 

Host institution:  

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). 

Summary: 

In recent times, malaria continues to stand as a major public health problem, with about 627 thousand deaths globally. Even with the acceptance of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) as the standard frontline treatment, reports of drug resistance continue to surface. In response to the need of new antimalarials with novel modes of action, Dr Lobe Maloba engaged in the discovery and design of new small molecules to combat drug resistance in malaria. 

APTI Fellowship: 

Dr Lobe will spend her fellowship at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under the mentorship of Dr. Malliga R. Iyer. Her research will focus on learning new Medicinal Chemistry tools to design and synthesis new molecules to be screened against malaria and other neglected tropical diseases. 

Dr Lobe Maloba received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Buea in Cameroon. 

She is an awardee of African-German Network of Excellence in Science – Programme Advocating Women in Science (AGNES-PAWS) Grant for Junior Researchers and the Adolphe Monkiedje Fellowship. She is also co-awardee of Alexander von Humboldt Research Group Linkage Project grant with Martin-Luther University. She has received training offered by BMBF/DLR-DAAD Project: Partnerships for Sustainable Solutions with Sub-Saharan Africa on Natural Products as well as a postdoctoral training at the University of Buea Center for Drug Discovery (UB-CeDD).  

Dr Lobe’s long-term research goals is to become a well-trained Medicinal Chemist fully equipped with the ability to advance a research niche on drug discovery. She is enthusiastic to build a library of small molecules to be screened against malaria and other neglected tropical disease. As an academic staff at the Department of Chemistry, University of Buea in Cameroon, she plans to train other young scientists, contribute in teaching, research, and outreach in her home country. 

Home institution: 
Botswana Harvard Health Partnership (BHP, formerly known as the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership)

Host institution: 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Summary:
Dr Seatla’s primary research interests are in the development and implementation of low-cost HIV drug resistance testing assays, monitoring for drug resistance among people with HIV who are taking contemporary antiretroviral treatment regimens, and evaluating in-vitro antiretroviral susceptibility of HIV-1 subtype C viruses that harbor drug resistance mutations (including the correlation between genotypic, viral replication capacity, and phenotypic profiles of HIV-1 subtype-C with extensive drug resistance mutations, including to integrase strand inhibitors). 

APTI Fellowship:
Dr Seatla is currently going through placement at NIH Institutes or Centers

Dr. Kaelo Seatla is an MD/PhD trained in clinical research at the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership where he also holds a Research Associate appointment. He is an active clinician, with a focus on treating patients with highly drug-resistant HIV, and he completed a PhD with a focus in virology at the University of Botswana.

Dr Seatla is a recipient of prestigious awards that include 1) Africa Research Excellence Fund Research Development Fellowship, 2) Harvard University, Boston University, Northwestern University, and University of New Mexico (HBNU) Fogarty Global Health Fellow, 3) Harvard University Center for AIDS Research Developmental Award, and 4) PhD fellowship by the sub-Saharan African Network for TB and HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE).

Dr. Seatla aims to continue to develop research skills in studying genotypic (including with next generation sequencing) and phenotypic drug resistance and spread of HIV, and applying these skills to emerging pathogens in Botswana. He is committed to a collaborative career in translational research that uses both his clinical and laboratory skills, and hopes to mentor future early-stage investigators in Botswana and the region.

Home institution: 
Charles River Medical Group, Mutala (Trust), Harare

Host institution: 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Summary:
Antiretroviral therapy has played a remarkable role in reducing mortality rate and improving the quality of life of many people living with HIV. However, focus and more studies should be oriented towards understanding the immunopathogenesis of HIV towards vaccine development/cure for the eradication of this pandemic globally. To address this, Dr Vinie Kouamou is investigating the biology of the latent reservoir towards a cure and understanding components of the immune response to HIV infection. 

APTI Fellowship:
Dr Vinie Kouamou will spend her fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Her research will focus on understanding the mechanisms of latent HIV reservoir towards HIV cure and the immune response to HIV pathogenesis.

Dr Vinie Kouamou received her PhD in Medicine and Health Sciences from the University of Zimbabwe where she specialized in Clinical Virology. She has previously received prestigious training fellowships; the D43 NIH/FIC Postdoctoral fellowship, The Global Virus Network Pandemic Defense Fellowship program, The International Awards L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Fellowship (FWiS) and the HIV research Trust Grant fellowship-PhD.
 
Dr Kouamou’s long-term aspiration is to understand key components of the immune response - the human leucocyte antigens (HLAs), Natural killer cell receptors, the genetic make-up of the B cell receptors and the latent HIV reservoir in the African context. This would contribute to advance knowledge towards vaccine development/cure for HIV in Africa. She is currently a clinical research scientist at the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory and also a lecturer in the Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Home institution: 
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon

Host institution: 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Summary:
Emergence of drug resistance parasites against treatment interventions continue to evolve and emerge worldwide. To address this, Dr Rita Afriyie Boateng leverages on computational biology to investigate important agents involved in the survival of parasites. She uses this knowledge to predict potential chemicals that can be used for the treatment of infectious diseases.

APTI Fellowship:
Dr Boateng will spend her fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the mentorship of Dr Elodie Ghedin. Her research will focus on understanding the interaction mechanisms in parasites and leverage on these findings to identify repurposed drugs against them.

Dr Boateng received her PhD in Bioinformatics from Rhodes University, South Africa. During which she published several impactful publications. She was a recipient of the Wellcome Trust funded DELGEME DELTAS training fellowship and also holds a postdoctoral position on the Bill and Melinda Gates funded Calestous Juma Science leadership and Fellowship program.

Dr Boateng’s long-term aspiration is to continuously expand and embrace new bioinformatic methodologies in studying infectious diseases. She aims to advance a research niche in Ghana on malaria drug resistance and drug development as well as train young African scientists. Ultimately, she is focused on conducting research which will inform policy and improve human health. She is currently a post doc at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon-Ghana.
 

Home institution: 
University of Nairobi, Kenya

Host institution: 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Summary:
Inborn errors of immunity can cause lung destruction (bronchiectasis) as a result of recurrent and/or persistent respiratory infections. However, data in Kenya are lacking largely due to a low level of clinical suspicion and limited/expensive diagnostics. To address this, Dr Diana Marangu-Boore will investigate inborn errors of immunity among children and adolescents in Kenya with recurrent/persistent pneumonia; and develop feasible context specific diagnostic and management pathways.

APTI Fellowship:
Dr Marangu-Boore will spend her fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the mentorship of Dr. Luigi Notarangelo. Her research will focus on determining the genetic basis of recurrent/persistent pneumonia and bronchiectasis in HIV uninfected children and adolescents in Kenya, specifically inborn errors of immunity, primary ciliary dyskinesia and cystic fibrosis.

Dr Marangu-Boore holds an MPH in Global Health from the University of Washington, a PhD in Tropical and Infectious Diseases from the University of Nairobi, and an MPhil in Paediatric Pulmonology from the University of Cape Town. She has previously received prestigious training scholarships from the International AIDS Research Training Program, the African Paediatric Fellowship Program, the Margaret McNamara Education Grant, and the Global Health Fogarty Fellowship.

Dr Marangu-Boore’s long-term research aspirations are towards being a leader in respiratory health in Africa. She aims to advance a research niche on the genetics of bronchiectasis particularly inborn errors of immunity; train young African scientists; and conduct research that improves respiratory health in children. She is a senior lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
 

Home institution: 
University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Host institution: 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Summary:

Despite being a vital tool in the global effort to prevent and eliminate malaria, vaccines have not been widely effective and the reasons for their variable protective response are unclear. Dr Daniel Amoako-Sakyi’s research aims to better understand how variations in host genes, gene expression, and gut microbiome may affect immune responses to malaria vaccines. By elucidating the factors that modulate vaccine-induced protection, he hopes his research will inform rational vaccine design and the development of more effective malaria vaccines.

Dr Amoako-Sakyi will conduct his research under the mentorship of Dr Patrick Duffy, who leads the Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology (LMIV) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). His research will focus on better understanding how genetic; epigenetic and microbiome variations modulate vaccine-induced protection against malaria. 

Dr Amoako-Sakyi earned his PhD in Public Health from the University of Ghana, where he studied the role of genetic and epigenetic factors in endothelial damage and repair among Ghanaian children with cerebral malaria. He recently led a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians on a University of Cape Coast funded project to investigate how intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) affects maternal microbiomes and pregnancy outcomes in Ghanaian women. He frequently collaborates with researchers from diverse backgrounds on common research goals.

Dr Amoako-Sakyi would like his research to contribute significantly to the generation of the knowledge and tools that will drive malaria interventions, especially those related to vaccines. He plans to set up an infection and immunity research laboratory in his home institution on his return. Dr Amoako-Sakyi hopes to transition into an established researcher and ultimately a global research and academic leader who can (i) advocate for evidence-based intervention and policies, (ii) lobby for investments in the training of the next generation of scientists and (iii) influence research agenda setting at the national, Sub Regional, and global levels. He is passionate about problem-driven research that transcends disciplinary boundaries, fosters collaboration, and responds to local needs.
 

Home institution: 
Redeemers’ University Ede Osun State Nigeria

Host institution: 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Summary:
Dr Alphonsus Chinedu Ugwu’s research focuses on understanding how the immune system modulates the outcome of viral infections. By elucidating the features of protective immune response to viral infections such as Lassa fever virus, SARS-CoV-2, and other endemic viral diseases in West Africa, he aims to contribute to the vaccine and therapeutic designs, diagnostics production, disease surveillance and informed public health policies for the diseases.

APTI Fellowship:
Dr Ugwu will spend his fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Vaccine Research Centre (NIAID/VRC) under the mentorship of Dr Daniel Douek. His research will focus on understanding the immunogenicity of the Lassa fever vaccine and generating broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAbs) for Lassa fever treatment and prevention.

Dr Ugwu holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with distinctions from the University of Ibadan Nigeria, a Master of Science in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford UK and a Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Sciences from the University of Cambridge UK. He is a recipient of several prestigious fellowships/grants; Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) funded OVEL project, Cambridge-Africa Alborada Research Fellowship and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded GIISER- ARISE project.

Dr Ugwu’s long-term research goal is to build an immunosurveillance platform that will generate and utilize immunological data to inform vaccine design and production, diagnostics, and therapeutics production for endemic and emerging pathogens. He aims to advance research in translational immunology and train young African scientists in immunology and vaccine research.

Home institution: 
University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Mali

Host institution: 
National Institute of Health (NIH)

Summary:
Despite efforts in fighting against malaria, cases and deaths are still high in many African countries. This could be due to the change in some malaria parasites to escape treatments or protection from vaccines. Currently, Dr Amadou Niangaly is investigating how parasites adapt to selective pressure from vaccines, drugs and monoclonal antibodies. 

APTI Fellowship:
Dr Niangaly will join Dr Peter Crompton’s lab at the National Institute of Health during this fellowship. Under the mentorship of Dr Crompton, Dr Niangaly will focus his research on understanding the basis of ‘breakthrough’ infections during malaria prophylaxis, specifically in clinical trials of anti-malarial monoclonal antibodies.  This will help in developing tools that are broadly protective against circulating strains of Plasmodium falciparum.  

Dr Niangaly received his PharmD degree from the University of Bamako in Mali followed by a Master degree in Parasitology-Mycology and Medical Entomology.  He graduated with a PhD degree in Parasitology-Mycology and Medical Entomology from the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako in Mali through a scholarship awarded by the Wellcome Trust funded Malaria Research Capacity Development (MARCAD) Consortium under the DELTAS programme. 

Over the long-term, Dr Niangaly's research are directed in molecular surveillance of infectious disease including rapidly evolving pathogens, whether in the context of outbreak investigations or understanding ‘failures’ of drugs, vaccine or monoclonal antibody in clinical trials or treatment. In addition, over the course of his academic career, Dr Niangaly aims to training young scientists and future leaders in biomedical research in Africa. He is currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Mali. 
 

Dr. Olivia Matshabane is a researcher in the South African Medical Research Council Genomics of Brain Disorders Unit in the Department of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is trained in psychology, bioethics and neuroethics in Africa. Her past work focused on exploring how a genetic attribution to disease relates to the stigma experiences of South African Xhosa people with schizophrenia. She has also conducted research focuses on questions around feedback of incidental findings in the context of neurogenetics research in Africa. Additionally, she led research in the U.S. investigating family communication choices and stigma among adults who received a genetic result for a neurodevelopment / neuropsychiatric disorder. Dr. Matshabane received her PhD in Medicine from the University of Cape Town, her Masters from the Stellenbosch University, and her bachelors from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Dr. Nicholaus Peter Mnyambwa a Postdoc fellow, Tuberculosis Research Section (TRS) of the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology (LCIM), Division of Intramural Research (DIR) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA. The program is funded by NIH and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through a partnership with the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). Dr. Nicholaus received his PhD in Health and Biomedical Sciences in 2019 from the Department of Global Health and Biosciences at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. During his PhD candidacy, he served as a fellow (Mycobacterial infections) with the Afrique-ONE ASPIRE consortium; one of the prestigious DELTAs programmes in Africa. In 2018, he joined the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)-Muhimbili Centre, Tanzania, as a clinical research scientist. His research interests centred on molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of TB/MDR-TB, TB vaccines, and clinical trials. Dr. Nicholaus has been involved in TB research at the national and regional levels and has authored 13 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Nicholaus seeks to strengthen existing partnerships and create new networks as he advances to become an independent leading scientist in Africa.

Dr. Michael Frimpong is a Molecular Immunologist lecturing at the Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, KNUST where he leads a team of young scientists working on developing and implementing novel and innovative diagnostic tests for detecting Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in resource limited settings.  He holds a PhD in Immunology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Molecular diagnostics from the Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich. Since 2014, he has contributed considerably to the understanding, development of new diagnostic tools and treatment for NTDs particularly Buruli ulcer with over 20 peer reviewed articles on the topic in high impact journals (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Frimpong+Michael). Dr. Frimpong is a proud recipient of several grants including the prestigious European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP-CDF) grant for early career scientist, International Society for Infectious (ISID) grant, the African Researchers’ small grant program (SGPII) from the African Network of Neglected Tropical Diseases, TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visit Programme from The World Academy of Sciences and Germany Research Foundation. 

Dr Kenneth Ssebambulidde MBChB MSc Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.  Kenneth obtained his medical training from the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University and an MSc Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is a distinguished academic performer who graduated top of his medical school cohort, was selected on merit to undertake an elective at Yale University School of Medicine and completed his MSc at the London School with a distinction. He currently works as a medical officer in the research department at the Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. He is interested in the immunological basis of disease with particular interest in the link between communicable and non-communicable diseases. His research is related to the association of abnormal cholesterol levels and pathogenesis of infections. For his Fellowship, he aims to learn analytical skills ranging from lab-bench work, to grant applications looking to understand the basis of inflammatory responses during Cryptococcal meningitis treatment in an HIV negative patient population. These skills will then be utilized on returning to Uganda where he will study immune responses in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis aiming to find a pathway that can be targeted by immune modulating drugs.

Dr. Henrietta Mensah-Brown holds a Bachelors degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Masters’ in Biochemistry and PhD in molecular biology of infectious diseases from the University of Ghana. Her research areas are malaria biology and immunology, focusing on the pathogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children. One aspect of her work is aimed at gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms used by Plasmodium falciparum for invasion of red blood cells. Another aspect is focused on investigating immune responses to proteins used in red cell invasion and the targets of invasion inhibitory antibodies. As a TIBA out of Africa postdoctoral fellow, her work focused on Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP-1) which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. At the NIH, Dr. Mensah-Brown will be continuing her work on PfEMP-1 in children with severe malaria.

Dr. Kiboi is a Kenyan. He completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya. He later won a prestigious Wellcome Trust-DELTAS Postdoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Kiboi research interest is analyzing the biochemistry of malaria parasites to expose biological molecules and pathways that could be exploited for interventions. He established a unique niche of selecting, phenotyping, and genotyping drug-resistant Plasmodium berghei parasites over his postgraduate years. He selected pools of drug-resistant parasites against the main long-acting drugs in the artemisinin-based combination therapies in clinical use and those under development. These drugs are lumefantrine, piperaquine, amodiaquine, and pyronaridine. Together with other scientists, he mapped promising mutations in proteins that are highly plausible mediators of drug transport and action. His PostDoc expanded his research focus to validating Plasmodium proteins associated with drug resistance and genes of interest to malaria immunity using both PlasmoGEM resources and the CRISPR/Cas9 system. He aims to maintain his focus on drug resistance mechanisms, focusing on the P. falciparum parasites. Dr. Kiboi is also a Lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry, JKUAT. He hopes to continue mentoring other young scientists. He has previously won several research grants/fellowships and published ten peer-review publications.

Born to the family of Godwin and Uzoamaka Chukwudi in Anambra state, Nigeria, Chinwe obtained her first degree in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with distinctions in almost all Veterinary subjects offered. Her outstanding performance earned her immediate appointment as a lecturer, department of Vet. Pathology and Microbiology, and a Commonwealth Academic staff Scholarship for PhD studies. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Microbial Genetics from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. She has received various national and international awards and grants in recognition of her outstanding academic performance and research, including the Nigerian Young Academy’s National Young Scientist Award 2017, Erasmus Mundus DREAM ACP scholarship 2016 (Universidad De Leon, Spain), and Commonwealth Academic Fellowship, 2017/2018 (Royal Veterinary College, London). Her research work is focused on strategies to improve the therapeutic efficacy of antimicrobials via improved understanding of molecular mechanisms of action, targeted cell delivery, biomolecular interactions, molecular pathology and diagnostics; as well as finding new uses for old drugs. She is self-motivated, result-oriented, and strategically focused. She believes that it is time for Africans to rise up and solve African problems by ourselves, as well as contribute our quota to global issues.

Dr. Chimukangara will spend his fellowship at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (NIH Clinical Center) under the mentorship of Joseph Kovacs, MD. His research will focus on understanding host-pathogen interactions in HIV and Pneumocystis infections. He will also focus on understanding viral dynamics in HIV-1 persistence and drug resistance through a collaborative network with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the mentorship of Frank Maldarelli, PhD. Dr. Chimukangara received a PhD in Virology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. His PhD work demonstrated the first evidence of high-levels of HIV-1 drug resistance among adults that have not initiated life-long HIV treatment in South Africa, supporting the decision for the country’s HIV treatment program (the largest HIV treatment program globally) to transition to more potent HIV drugs. He is a Lecturer in the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences at University of KwaZulu-Natal and a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), specialising in HIV-1 genotyping for research and clinical management, and large-scale data analysis in molecular virology.

Ajakaye Oluwaremilekun Grace is a doctoral degree holder in Parasitology from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. She is a Nigerian born lecturer and researcher with eight years’ experience.  She is currently based at the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state. Nigeria where she lectures undergraduate and postgraduate courses. In addition, she serves as the research coordinator in her department. She has a strong interest in research on neglected tropical diseases evidenced by her research activities, awards and publications. She is currently studying the population genomics of different protozoans and helminths. She is a member of the Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria and other prestigious professional societies.

Home institution:

St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Ethiopia

Host institution:

National Institute of Nursing Research / National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism

Summary:

The mechanisms and impact on brain development of adverse environment during pregnancy have not been adequately investigated in African population. Dr. Woldeyohannes will investigate epigenetic changes associated with environmental factors by following up 1,200 pregnant women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

APTI Fellowship:

Dr Markos Tesfaye Woldeyohannes, MD, PhD spent the first two years of his fellowship at the National Institute of Nursing Research/ National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in Bethesda, Maryland under the mentorship of Paule Joseph, PhD and Fasil Tekola-Ayele, PhD. His research aimed to investigate DNA methylation in placenta and psychosocial factors during pregnancy using data from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Foetal Growth Study.

Dr. Woldeyohannes obtained his M.D from Jimma University, Ethiopia and completed Clinical Psychiatry Specialty training at Addis Ababa University. He obtained PhD from University of Copenhagen, Denmark with a dissertation entitled Quality of Life among PLHIV in Jimma: the role of mental health, food and nutrition. Dr. Woldeyohannes’ research attempts to investigate the interplay among biological factors such as genetics, and environmental factors during early years of development in the risk for diseases later in life. His research involves the use of genome-wide data and the development of bioinformatic tools for big data analysis.

Dr. Woldeyohannes envisages to become an independent investigator aiming to understand DNA methylation in different tissues and their association with adverse environmental factors during early life. The APTI fellowship research project will be implemented at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr. Woldeyohannes will also engage in teaching and mentoring trainees.

Home institution:

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana

Host institution:

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Summary:

Lassa fever is an acute viral disease transmitted to humans by rodents. Dr. Owusu Donkor research work looks at seroprevelance and infection of Lassa fever in Ghana. Her aim is to develop a surveillance network for early detection of emerging pathogens.

APTI Fellowship:

Dr. Owusu Donkor spent the first two years of her fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Rocky Mountains Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana under the mentorship of Vincent Munster, PhD. Her research investigates the development of a surveillance network for emerging viruses in Africa and point-of care diagnostic assays for detection of the emerging viruses. Her focus will be on Lassa fever which is one of the most rapidly emerging viral diseases in Africa.

Dr. Owusu Donkor received a PhD in Public Health from the University of Ghana. She is a young scientist with nearly 11 years of experience in the study of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) specifically lymphatic filariasis. She’s led two operational research activities: The first was a Bill and Melinda Gates funded project through the Task Force for Global Health, Atlanta, titled “Resolving the Critical Challenges Now Facing the Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis; Operational Research Phases I & II.” The findings led to the development and implementation of Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS) which are being utilized by all LF endemic countries. The second was a CDC funded project, “Post-MDA Surveillance for Lymphatic Filariasis Transmission.” This project evaluated the Wb123 ELISA assay for LF elimination programme. 

Dr. Owusu Donkor has extensive experience in fieldwork and molecular research methods as a diagnostic tool for studying the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Dr. Offei Owusu’s long term professional goal is to be a public health expert, conducting ground-breaking research that will ultimately lead to eliminating emerging viral and parasitic diseases globally.

Home institution:

Center for Genomic Research in Biomedicine (CeGRIB), Mountain Top University, Nigeria

Host institution:

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, US National Institutes of Health

APTI Fellowship:

Dr. Oyebola completed his PhD in Parasitology and Bioinformatics at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Through a competitive early career postdoctoral fellowship, he adopted innovative cell biology and genomic techniques to identify drug-tolerant malaria parasites in the absence of Kelch-13 mutations linked with resistance.

Dr. Oyebola’s research career has received considerable recognitions. He won the overall prize for best PhD Thesis, University of Lagos, Nigeria followed by a Wellcome Trust-DELTAS Postdoctoral Fellowship. He has also received training awards from the Harvard School of Public Health and the Broad Institute on Molecular SNP Barcoding and from H3Africa Bioinformatics Network to train on chip data analysis of genome-wide association studies of human populations. His research currently focuses on identifying prognostic markers of certain cancer types and cardiovascular diseases among Africans.

Dr. Oyebola is a Senior Lecturer and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. Dr Oyebola is an NIH Emerging Global Leader (K43) and an EDCTP Career Development Fellow. He is the Director of the Centre for Genomic Research in Biomedicine (CeGRIB), Mountain Top University. Dr Oyebola is also the CEO of Habilis Biotech.

Home institution: Egerton University, Kenya
Host institution: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
 

Dr. Ondigo will spend his fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)  under the mentorship of Michal Fried, PhD. His research will focus on T-cell immune responses and their functional roles in the pathophysiology of placental malaria and acquired immunity to placental parasites.

Dr. Ondigo is a Kenyan fellow with growing expertise in the immunology of infectious parasitic diseases and global health. He completed his PhD training in Immunology from Maseno University, Kenya in 2013. In 2012 he was a recipient of a Fogarty Global Health Fellowship to study human immunity to malaria. To pursue his interests in parasitic diseases, he began his post-doctoral studies focusing on  immunology of schistosomiasis at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in 2014. 

Dr. Ondigo is highly enthusiastic about biomedical research and has been active in research projects that involve epidemiological investigation and basic research. He has published five first author articles in peer-reviewed journals. Outside of his current position as a researcher he teaches at Egerton University in
The Department Of  Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Ondigo’s long-term goal is to be an independent investigator and be part of team in translational research in infectious diseases. This will enable him to integrate his previous training and international experience to establish an infectious disease 
Research program focused on tropical parasitic diseases. Dr. Ondigo hopes to become a successful
Researcher and leader in the field of global health.
 

Home institution:

Institut National de Santé Publique, Mali

Host institution:

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Summary:

Africa shoulders the heaviest burden of malaria globally. The use of drugs for the treatment or prevention of malaria in Africa is threatened by resistance. Current tools used to measure drug resistance have some limits. Dr Maiga is developing a tool that can overcome these limitations to improve malaria surveillance in Africa.

APTI Fellowship:

Dr. Maiga spent his fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the mentorship of Dr. Patrick Duffy. His research focused on monitoring antimalarial drugs used for seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC).

Dr. Maiga received his Ph.D. in Parasitology and Medical Entomology from the University of Sciences Techniques and Technologies of Bamako in Mali. He has extensive field and laboratory experience studying malaria and has participated as a clinical investigator and coordinator for multiple malaria treatment clinical trials. He has had collaborations with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the US, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the World Health Organization (WHO)

Dr. Maiga’s long-term research goal is to develop a new method of monitoring malaria drug resistance using bioinformatics. This approach is more cost-effective and will improve malaria drug-resistance surveillance, which in turn can inform national program strategies on treatment and prevention options. He hopes to contribute to the training of young scientists in Mali.

Home institution:

Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria

Host institution:

National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS)

Summary:

Africa contributes to a third of the global burden of childhood stunting (impaired growth and development) with Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, having a prevalence rate of 37%. Stunting predominantly occurs in the first 1,000 days of life and often begins during pregnancy. Dr Kana is conducting a birth cohort study in Northern Nigeria to provide insight into adverse exposures during pregnancy that impacts child health.

APTI Fellowship:

Dr. Kana spent his fellowship at the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) under the mentorship of Dr. Stephanie London. His research focused on molecular epidemiology, specifically on environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors, and their interactions, in relation to birth outcomes, as well as health and illness across the life course.

Dr. Kana received his Ph.D. in public health specializing in perinatal and paediatric epidemiology from the University of Porto, Portugal in 2018. He has received intensive training in epidemiological methods, and assessment of prenatal exposures and outcomes during intra-uterine and early life. Dr Kana is a lifetime member of the International Epidemiological Association. He was a recipient of the AERAS/South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) Study Fellowship Award. He is a collaborator on the Bibliotheca Alexandrina-Serageldin Research Methods Library project, which built the largest research methods library in the world.

Dr. Kana’s aspiration is to pilot a birth cohort study in Nigeria to understand the environmental factors that lead to childhood stunting. This research will be relevant in informing interventions to prevent stunting and will build capacity for molecular epidemiology research within Nigeria. He is currently a lecturer at the Federal University of Lafia, Nigeria.

Home institution:

University of Cape Coast, Ghana

Host institution:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Summary:

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Africa is predicted to increase by 145% in 2045, the highest anticipated increase in the world. Africa also has the lowest per capita health care expenditure on diabetes and the highest mortality rate from the disease in people under the age of 60. Predicting undiagnosed diabetes is a critical step toward addressing diabetes epidemic in populations of African descent worldwide.

APTI Fellowship:

Dr. Hormenu spent his fellowship at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the mentorship of Dr. Anne Sumner, MD. His postdoctoral training research focused on establishing how lifetime nutritional exposures lead to diabetes throughout lifespan in Ghana.

Dr. Hormenu completed his Ph.D training in Health Promotion at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana in 2017. He examined and established baseline information on factors influencing adolescents’ health behaviours in Ghana.

Dr. Hormenu’s research goal is to integrate the research experience he acquired from the postdoctoral training at NIDDK in his home country and home institution the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. He plans to design nutritional surveys, assess physical activity and model data on glucose tolerance in Ghana. Dr. Hormenu’s long-term aspiration is to develop collaborative relationships and research consortiums with academicians, clinicians, and other health professionals to conduct research into finding the etiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and developed evidence-based culturally sensitive efficacious health promotion interventions to prevent CVDs in Ghana. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Home institution: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana
Host institution: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
 

Dr. Amissah will spend her fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the mentorship of Michael Otto, PhD. Her research will focus on investigation intra- and interspecies competition that resulted in the dominance of a specific Staphylococcus aureus strain in Buruli ulcers. Specifically, she will focus on the factors that influence bacteriocin expression, mode of action and host cell immunity.

Dr. Amissah received a PhD in Sciences from the University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Netherlands in 2017. She gained knowledge in Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium ulcerans epidemiology in skin and soft tissue infections. She is a Research Fellow at the Noguchi emorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Dr. Amissah plans to study mechanisms used by staphylococci and other Gram-positive bacteria to evade the human immune system and drug therapy, focusing mainly on the strategies used to evade host antimicrobial peptides. Focusing on African staphylococcal isolates will unravel yet unrecognized staphylococcal immune evasion mechanisms.

Home institution:

Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

Host institution:

National Human Genome Research Institute

Summary:

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a blood disorder due to a mutation in the hemoglobin gene (hemoglobin is the protein molecule that transports oxygen in the blood). Individuals with this mutation are unable to deliver sufficient oxygen to their tissues leading to severe and lifelong symptoms. The highest burden of SCD is on the African continent. To date, there is no affordable cure for sickle cell disease and most people born with the disease die before their 5^th birthday. Idowu will address this by identifying novel druggable targets for SCD by comparing the genes of immature blood cells of normal and SCD individuals:

APTI Fellowship:

Dr. Aimola will spend his fellowship year at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) under the mentorship of Francis Collins, MD, Ph.D. His research will focus on characterizing the differentiation pathway of induced pluripotent stem cells to the pancreatic beta cells lineage.

Dr. Aimola received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, with several scholarly publications. He was a Fulbright scholar at the Department of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine

Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York.

Dr. Aimola’s long-term research goals are directed toward understanding gene function and patterns of gene expression with underlying molecular events of blood stem cell development and uncovering novel molecular and epigenetic control mechanisms governing the developmental expression of human globin genes. Idowu Aimola is an Academic Staff at the Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.