“WACCBIP has been an important launch in my career. With the experience I have gained, I am confident that I can make lasting impacts in any field in my career as an accountant”
Researchers at the West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) have held a one-day training programme aimed at equipping health workers with the requisite skills to identify and manage Buruli ulcer cases.
The KEMRI Wellcome Trust, a DELTAS Africa programme, is looking for an experienced post-doctoral social scientist who will develop and run a programme of work around the social science and ethics of research involving Controlled Human Infection Models, in which researchers expose participants in a controlled way to specific disease pathogens to study processes of infection and immunity.
As part of the WACCBIP-DELTAS programme, the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) organised its second Bioethics Training Workshop for postdoctoral fellows and stakeholders from institutions across the West African sub-region, with support from the Malaria Research and Training Centre (MRTC) at the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB).
The first ever WACCBIP TB medical outreach programme has been put in full gear after three outreach events were organized successfully for residents of three suburbs in Accra.
Faculty and staff of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) attended the three-day joint World Bank African Centres of Excellence (ACE) I and II projects workshop at the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra from Tuesday, 7th November to Thursday, 9th November 2017.
Announcement for 2nd WACCBIP-DELTAS Bioethics Workshop
University of Ghana had the privilege of hosting Professor Peter Agre, a 2003 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and the Director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute at the Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
The Seventh African Centres of Excellence (ACE) workshop was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria from May 16-18, 2017. The workshop participants included representatives from the World Bank, Association of African Universities (AAU), and the 22 ACEs in West and Central Africa.
The world-acclaimed Malaria Experimental Genome Course which is delivered by Scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, United Kingdom (UK), has been held at University of Ghana.
The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) organised a Public Engagement programme at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The event which took place on November 18, 2016 was held at the Department of Microbiology, KNUST.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu has broken the grounds for the construction of a building for the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), at the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB), College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS).
Many abstracts could fall into more than one category, so please select the one you prefer. The scientific committee reserves the right to shift abstracts from the authors' preference to another section in order to balance the programme.
WACCBIP is organizing the maiden research conference to provide a platform for graduate students of the center to present their research work to a wide audience. The conference will also host several keynote and plenary speakers selected from the local, regional and international partner institutions of the center. The best student presenters will be sponsored to present their work at an international conference.
Eligibility for participation:
To apply for this conference as a presenter, you must be a graduate student enrolled in BCMB or MCBI programmes, or a WACCBIP postdoctoral fellow.
Application documents:
Visit this weblink: http://bit.do/waccbipRC2016
- Complete conference forms
- Submit a conference abstract
Deadline for applications is 31st May 2016.
Find more information here
July 11 – 22, 2016 at the Department of Biochemistry,Cell and Molecular Biology,University of Ghana, Legon, Accra
The Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology in collaboration with theWest African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens and the University of Cambridge is organising a 10 day workshop on the molecular biology of neglected disease (trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis etc) pathogenesis and diagnostic developmentsponsored by a Leverhulme-Royal Society Award
The course is designed for people who already have at least a BSc in a relevant subject from institutions in Ghana and neighbouring countries around Ghana. The workshop will be taught by both an international and local faculty.The workshop emphasizes on student participation through presentations, journal club discussions of selected papers from the literature, hands-on laboratory sessions and informal interactions.
Participating faculty include:
| Gordon Awandare, University of Ghana Mark Carrington, Univeristy of Cambridge Lydia Mosi, University of Ghana Patrick Kobina Arthur, University of Ghana Simone Weyand, University of Cambridge Osbourne Quaye, University of Ghana | Theresa Manful Gwira, University of Ghana Keith Gull, University of Oxford Samuel Duodu,University of Ghana Jayne Raper, Hunter College, CUNY Jack Sunter, University of Oxford Paula MacGregor, University of Cambridge |
Registration and participation:
Please download an application form here.
The application deadline is May 8 , 2016. All expenses for the workshop will be covered except airfare and visa. Applicants are required to send a completed application, CV and a letter of motivation to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A group photograph of participants and faculty members
The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in collaboration with the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) initiative organized a Workshop on Modern Cell Biology at the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB). The workshop commenced on January 18, 2016 and ended on January 30, 2016.
The objective of the workshop is to help young scientists learn cell biology, methods for studying cells, and how they can be applied in their research work.
(From left to right: Prof. Kwadwo A. Koram, Prof. Dick McIntosh, Prof. Isaac Asante, Prof. George Obeng- Adjei and Dr. Gordon A. Awandare)
The workshop was officially opened by Prof. Isaac Asante, Head of Department- Plant and Environmental Biology who stood in for the Dean of School of Biological Sciences.
Also present were Dr. Gordon Awandare– Director of WACCBIP; Prof. Kwadwo A. Koram – Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR); Prof. George Obeng- Adjei; WACCBIP faculty and a member of BSU steering committee and Prof. Dick McIntosh – ASCB representative.
Dr. Gordon A. Awandare delivering his opening address
Welcoming participants to the workshop, the Head of Department (BCMB) and Director of WACCBIP, Dr. Gordon A. Awandare expressed his gratitude to the ASCB for sponsoring this workshop since 2009. He added that this is the first time the workshop is being sponsored by WACCBIP and urged participants to seize the opportunity and acquire as much knowledge from the experienced faculty they would be interacting with both formally and informally over the period of the workshop.
The workshop will also serve as a platform to equip graduate students with both theoretical knowledge and technical know -how as they prepare for their comprehensive exams and thesis research.
Prof. George Obeng – Adjei delivering his opening remarks
Prof. George Obeng – Adjei, WACCBIP faculty and a member of the BSU steering committee added that in line with the BSU initiative to make participating institutions stronger, the workshop will help produce skilled and motivated graduates who would employ innovation, knowledge sharing and provide solutions to local and global challenges through research.
Prof. Isaac Asante addressing faculty and participants
Prof. Isaac Asante in his opening speech indicated that the workshop is consistent with the University of Ghana's strategic vision of becoming a world class research- intensive institution, since the training will provide participants with the requisite knowledge and skill as they advance their respective research and career aspirations. Often, women are insecure when taking antibiotics from https://icord.org/antibiotics/ and contraceptive pills at the same time: Does the child pill still give satisfactory insurance or does an anti-microbial diminish the impact? A few logical examinations recommend that anti-microbials can meddle with the impacts of the pill.
The workshop will consist of lectures, presentations, journal club discussions of selected papers from literature and hands on laboratory sessions.
Various faculty taught topics including: Protein folding and structure, Cell Growth and Division, TB drug treatment and drug resistance, Next Generation of Antibiotics from Fungal Sources, Manipulating Gene Expression in malaria to fight drug resistance, Protein Trafficking, Cell Biology of Plasmodium, Malaria diagnostics, Naturally acquired immunity to malaria, Genetic manipulation of cells, Concept of electrophoresis and blotting methods for culturing eukaryotic cells, Flow cytometry: theory, instrumentation and applications, Scientific integrity: image manipulation, plagiarism, Grant writing: obtaining funding in Africa.
Prof. John Richard McIntosh presenting a lecture on Organization of Pro” and Eukaryotic Cells
A section of participants
Participants having a pre lab discussion
(1)A Group of Participants at Journal Club
(2)A Group of Participants at Journal Club
A Group of Participants undertaking a hands-on lab session
Participating faculty included scientist from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the College of Health Sciences.
Other international faculty included: Prof John Richard McIntosh (University of Colorado), Prof. Kirk William Deitsch (Cornell University), Martha Cyert (Stanford University) and Joy Power (University
Researchers at the West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) have held a one-day training programme aimed at equipping health workers with the requisite skills to identify and manage Buruli ulcer cases. The training workshop, funded by the Global Challenge Research Fund under the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom and supported by WACCBIP, was held at Jacobu in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region, and was led by Dr. Lydia Mosi, a lead researcher at WACCBIP.
Dr. Lydia Mosi addresses participantsThe workshop brought together over 40 participants, mainly community health workers and volunteers from surrounding towns and villages in the district including Dunkwa-on-Offin, Tankoma, Mile 14, Kofitwikrom, Abuakwa, Kobro, Fiankoma, and Abuntunso.
The St. Peter's District Hospital at Jacobu records a large number of Buruli ulcer cases from surrounding villages. Dr. Mosi, who is also the Head of Department for Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) of the University of Ghana, has been engaging in public education, providing research support and advocating for the eradication of Buruli ulcer in the affected communities since 2010.
Participants follow a lecture at the training workshopSpeaking at the workshop, Dr. Mosi explained that the disease, which was discovered about 150 years ago, is the third most common bacterial infection after TB and Leprosy globally. The disease, she said, is mainly prevalent in West Africa especially in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire and it affects over 250 people yearly.
“Buruli ulcer is a neglected tropical skin disease caused by environmental pathogen Mycobacterium Ulcerans and how it is transmitted remains uncertain,” she said. “The astonishing part is that the ulcer and sores are painless and the immune system is quickly suppressed because of the toxin called mycolactone. Mycolactone kills the nerve cells in the body making the ulcer painless.”
Participants being trained on how to treat cases of Buruli ulcerAccording to Dr. Mosi, not much attention has been given to Buruli ulcer in Ghana, and a lack of proper education on the disease often leads to stigmatisation and the belief that victims practice witchcraft.
She noted that the training was timely and important for early detection of the disease, which would encourage victims from the rural areas in the Amansie Central district to report cases frequently to the hospital.
“This disease is very much underreported mainly because the endemic areas are so rural and far from the nearest health facilities; therefore, clinical removal of the ulcer becomes a choice treatment and many people resort to herbal medicines as treatment. Sadly, disfiguration, disability, and amputation are common outcomes for patients,” she said.
She detailed the current steps being taken towards providing quick diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
“I am happy to share with you the new area of Buruli ulcer research called Metabolomics in Biomarker Discovery and we want to use this to develop quick diagnosis for Buruli ulcer. Our hope is to develop a rapid and immediate diagnostic tool to identify and differentiate Buruli ulcer from other ulcers,” Dr. Mosi said.
Dr. Mosi also donated a motorbike to the District Disease Control Unit to enhance activities of health workers in the surrounding villages, to disseminate information on the disease.
Dr. Lydia Mosi donates a motorbike to the District Disease Control Unit of Amansie CentralTreatment and Sampling collection
Highlighting the importance of sampling at the training, Mr. Charles Quaye, a research fellow with the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) said the role of health workers in reaching out to affected patients could not be underestimated in the fight against the disease.
“Health workers need to report cases to health centers after their house-to-house tours for early treatment,” he said.
Mr. Charles Quaye addresses participants
Mr. Akwesi Dwomoh, District Disease Control Unit head takes participants through sample collectionTeaching on sampling collection of the disease, Mrs. Mabel Sarpong, the Laboratory Manager for the Mosi Laboratory, educated participants on how to take and store samples for tests. “Taking samples are important to confirm that a patient's wound is Buruli ulcer or not, to determine the precise prevalence and incidence of Buruli ulcer in a given area and also to appropriately manage the disease using antimycobacterial therapy,” she said.
The District Health Director for Amansie Central, Mr. Timothy Mensah,
congratulated Dr. Mosi and WACCBIP for their continuous financial support and education in the district. He said the district records lots of Buruli ulcer cases and thus, the training would further equip participants to detect cases early and help to reduce the devastating effect the disease has on its victims.
Parallel Sessions & Peer-Learning
Participants shared their experiences, progress, challenges and lessons learnt at the workshop. Participants were also given the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from facilitators throughout the workshop. Due to a difficult work schedule, chronic fatigue and exhaustion of nervous system resources, I caught insomnia and a low libido. Urologist recommended me to rest and take Levitra. Advantages: unlike Viagra, Levitra acts much softer. There was no tachycardia, as it happens with Viagra or Cialis. Levitra gives a long effect without discomfort (as is the case with Viagra). Regular intake of Levitra greatly increases libido. In the future, the dosage can be reduced, and you may even withdraw the drug. The main shortcoming is a price, although to be fair, I should note that all the drugs from this category are expensive.
Participants share ideasMiss Gloria Koomson, a participant was very happy she attended the workshop. “This is the first time I have attended such a training and it will go a long way to help me identify cases of the disease,” she said. “Most of the topics taught were practical and it has adequately equipped me.”
Mrs. Mabel Sarpong (standing) addresses participants
Participants being trained on taking samples
WACCBIP team at the training workshop
Madam Akua Nsia shares her storyVictim
A victim of Buruli ulcer, Madam Akua Nsia, said the disease has been devouring her left leg for two months and she would not have gone to the hospital if she had not collapsed. The skin around her left leg was swollen with a large, pulpy, reddish, wound covering her ankle.
“I went to the farm one day and got a cut on my leg, the next day, I realized my leg was swollen,” she said. “I thought it was a normal swell, I rubbed and wrapped it with traditional herbs but it turned into a large sore within some few days. There has been an improvement since my daughter brought me to the hospital.”
- CAREER OPPORTUNITY: POSTDOCTORAL SOCIAL SCIENTIST
- WACCBIP hosts first Crick African Network Research Methods Workshop
- WACCBIP Holds Second Bioethics Workshop in Bamako, Mali
- WACCBIP completes three events under first ever TB/ medical outreach programme
- WACCBIP PARTICIPATES IN MAIDEN JOINT WORLD BANK ACE I & ACE II PROJECTS WORKSHOP
- African scientists to get new open-access publishing platform for their research
- WACCBIP Director Receives TIBA Rapid Impact Projects Award
- WACCBIP Medical Outreach Event Makes News
- School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS)
- Call for Applications-TDR-EDCTP-WHO
- Prof. Dr. James Adjaye Speaks at BCMB/ WACCBIP Seminar
- Gordon Awandare: Ghana”™s Homecoming King
- First cohort of master”™s students at WACCBIP graduate from the University of Ghana
- WACCBIP Outreach Programme to West African Senior High School
- WACCBIP Holds Second Research Conference
- Francis Crick Institute to train top African scientists
- World Bank Senior Director visits WACCBIP
- New Multidisciplinary Centre for Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa
- DELTAS Annual Grantees Meeting
- University of Ghana Host Prof. Peter Agre, 2003 Nobel Laureate for Chemistry
About WACCBIP
In response to the World Bank’s call for proposals for African Centres of Excellence, the University of Ghana proposed the establishment of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at Legon.
