A group photograph of participants and faculty members.

The third workshop on Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis and Diagnostics of Neglected Diseases, sponsored by the Leverhulme trust and the Royal Society has kicked off with exciting sessions.

This year’s workshop which started on July 11, 2016 will run till July 22, 2016. It is made possible with the collaborative efforts of the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and the University of Cambridge. The opening of the workshop was attended by MPhil and Ph.D. students, international faculty members from other institutes and participants from other sub-Saharan countries.

This workshop is aimed at training graduate, post graduate and healthcare professionals from various institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. Trainees will participate through presentations, journal club discussions of selected research papers, hands-on laboratory sessions and informal interactions with faculty.

Dr. Gordon A. Awandare delivering his opening remarks.

Dr. Gordon Awandare, the director of WACCBIP, in his opening remarks, expressed his gratitude toward the collaborative agreement that has taken place over the past years with the hope that it will accelerate academic interaction. He was also optimistic that the workshop will ignite the passion of participants to undertake more rigorous research. He further indicated that (WACCBIP) has for the last few years focused on becoming a leading research training institute in West Africa.

Prof. George Armah delivering his keynote address.

The Keynote address was delivered by Prof. George Armah of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research on the topic “Sanitation, Disease and Development”: The SANIpath Experience. He shared connective challenges facing Africa with regards to sanitation and the neglected topics surrounding it. In his presentation, he precisely threw more light on the SaniPath Tool, which has been used to assess potential public health risks as a result of poor access to urban sanitation facilities and unsafely managed fecal sludge in Ghana. He made an observation about the increasing number of people who die yearly to cholera and malaria. He noted that such problems can be tackled by implementing research findings.

Local organizer, Dr. Theresa Manful Gwira addressing participants.

Dr. Theresa Manful Gwira, the local organizer of the workshop, thanked and expressed her gratitude for the support of international faculty members.  She advised the students to be interactive and adapt to the standardized format of teaching programs.

Prof. Mark Carrington addressing participants at the workshop.

Prof. Mark Carrington from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge in his preliminary remarks, urged participants to use this platform as a means to network and use the knowledge and skill acquired in their learning and research pursuits.

Some participants shared their experience and expectations on the workshop.

Dr.Jack Sunter from the University of Oxford addressing participants.

Participating faculty from the University of Ghana include: Dr. Theresa Manful Gwira, Dr. Lydia Mosi, Dr. Gordon A. Awandare, Dr. Nana Yaw Asare Yeboah, Dr. Patrick Arthur, Dr. Osbourn Quaye, Prof. Neils Quashie and Dr. Samuel Doudu. Other international faculty include: Professor Mark Carrington (University of Cambridge), Dr. Jack Sunter (University of Oxford), and Dr. Paula McGregor from University of Cambridge.

Participants seated at the workshop.

Dr. Paula MacGregor interacting with students.