R Phillips, KNUST Ghana. Pathogenesis and management of M. ulcerans disease, Buruli ulcer
Lead Research Organisation:
St George's, University of London
Department Name: Molecular & Clinical Sci Research Inst
Abstract
Buruli ulcer is a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans (Mu) which is common in rural parts of West African countries including Ghana. It causes large, disfiguring skin ulcers mainly in children aged 5 to 15 years although any age can be affected. Access to treatment in rural areas is limited and many cases present late because of fear, suspicion about conventional medicine and the economic consequences for poor families. The disease is highly focal and in Ghana, where these investigations will be carried out, it is not seen at all in the North, most cases occurring in particular parts of the Ashanti Region. The mode of transmission remains unknown but there have been major advances in understanding the mechanism of disease since the establishment of the WHO Buruli ulcer initiative in 1998 together with improved diagnosis and management. The aim of the proposed studies is to identify markers predictive of a rapid response to antibiotic treatment and to investigate the pathogenesis of paradoxical reactions and oedematous lesions in Mu disease.
When someone is infected with Mu, the first sign is a nodule under the skin which gradually enlarges and breaks down in the centre to form an ulcer. This is because Mu produces a toxin that spreads outwards and damages subcutaneous tissue. In about 15% of cases the skin around the ulcer is swollen with oedema, that is fluid in the tissue, and in this situation the ulcer enlarges more rapidly so that it may involve a whole limb for example.
In recent years it has been found that instead of removing ulcers by extensive surgery it is possible to heal them by antibiotic treatment for 8 weeks with daily tablets and intramuscular injections. This is unpleasant, particularly for children, and it would be better if the treatment could be limited to a shorter time. Our previous studies suggest that it may be possible to do investigations at the beginning of treatment that distinguish people who need only 4 weeks antibiotic treatment. A wide range of tests will be investigated in detail to identify markers for people in whom the infection is at an early stage with low numbers of the Mu bacteria and low levels of the toxin in the skin. During antibiotic treatment the rate of healing will be measured carefully to find out which markers are most reliable and practical for use in countries where Buruli ulcer is endemic.
After antibiotic treatment some patients develop new areas of inflammation or a sudden increase in the size of a healing ulcer, giving the impression that the infection is still active. It is not known what causes these paradoxical reactions but it is thought that there is an increasing immune response to residual dead Mu organisms in the tissue. In the proposed studies the immune response to Mu will be investigated serially during antibiotic treatment and when patients develop a paradoxical reaction.
Oedematous disease is the most severe form of Buruli ulcer. The cause of it is not known but a likely explanation is that larger than normal amounts of the Mu toxin mycolactone are produced and diffuse away from the initial site of infection. This will be investigated by measuring mycolactone in the skin of patients and studying mycolactone production by the strain of Mu cultured from patients with this form of the disease.
When someone is infected with Mu, the first sign is a nodule under the skin which gradually enlarges and breaks down in the centre to form an ulcer. This is because Mu produces a toxin that spreads outwards and damages subcutaneous tissue. In about 15% of cases the skin around the ulcer is swollen with oedema, that is fluid in the tissue, and in this situation the ulcer enlarges more rapidly so that it may involve a whole limb for example.
In recent years it has been found that instead of removing ulcers by extensive surgery it is possible to heal them by antibiotic treatment for 8 weeks with daily tablets and intramuscular injections. This is unpleasant, particularly for children, and it would be better if the treatment could be limited to a shorter time. Our previous studies suggest that it may be possible to do investigations at the beginning of treatment that distinguish people who need only 4 weeks antibiotic treatment. A wide range of tests will be investigated in detail to identify markers for people in whom the infection is at an early stage with low numbers of the Mu bacteria and low levels of the toxin in the skin. During antibiotic treatment the rate of healing will be measured carefully to find out which markers are most reliable and practical for use in countries where Buruli ulcer is endemic.
After antibiotic treatment some patients develop new areas of inflammation or a sudden increase in the size of a healing ulcer, giving the impression that the infection is still active. It is not known what causes these paradoxical reactions but it is thought that there is an increasing immune response to residual dead Mu organisms in the tissue. In the proposed studies the immune response to Mu will be investigated serially during antibiotic treatment and when patients develop a paradoxical reaction.
Oedematous disease is the most severe form of Buruli ulcer. The cause of it is not known but a likely explanation is that larger than normal amounts of the Mu toxin mycolactone are produced and diffuse away from the initial site of infection. This will be investigated by measuring mycolactone in the skin of patients and studying mycolactone production by the strain of Mu cultured from patients with this form of the disease.
Technical Summary
Buruli ulcer is a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans (Mu) which is common in remote rural parts of West African countries including Ghana. The disease results initially in a subcutaneous painless nodule tethered to the skin or an intradermal plaque both of which ulcerate centrally. Oedematous disease is the most severe form of disease and it occurs in about 15% of cases. It may extend to a whole limb.
Antibiotic treatment with rifampicin and streptomycin for 8 weeks is now standard. The main aim of the proposed studies is to investigate markers for patients with early infection in whom the bacterial load is low and production of the M. ulcerans toxin mycolactone is limited. It is proposed that such patients will respond rapidly to antibiotic treatment and that a shortened course of antibiotics will be adequate.
A prospective observational study will be undertaken in patients diagnosed accurately to have Mu infection. Biomarkers will be investigated in serum using multianalyte profiling by Luminex. The immune response to Mu antigens will be studied and lymphocyte populations will be analysed by flow cytometry. Tissue mycolactone concentration will be measured by a cytotoxicity assay and by mass spectrometry.
Paradoxical reactions are seen in 10% of cases during or after antibiotic treatment. The pathogenesis of these reactions and of oedematous disease will be investigated using the same techniques to measure the immune response to Mu antigens, serum biomarkers and tissue mycolactone concentration.
Antibiotic treatment with rifampicin and streptomycin for 8 weeks is now standard. The main aim of the proposed studies is to investigate markers for patients with early infection in whom the bacterial load is low and production of the M. ulcerans toxin mycolactone is limited. It is proposed that such patients will respond rapidly to antibiotic treatment and that a shortened course of antibiotics will be adequate.
A prospective observational study will be undertaken in patients diagnosed accurately to have Mu infection. Biomarkers will be investigated in serum using multianalyte profiling by Luminex. The immune response to Mu antigens will be studied and lymphocyte populations will be analysed by flow cytometry. Tissue mycolactone concentration will be measured by a cytotoxicity assay and by mass spectrometry.
Paradoxical reactions are seen in 10% of cases during or after antibiotic treatment. The pathogenesis of these reactions and of oedematous disease will be investigated using the same techniques to measure the immune response to Mu antigens, serum biomarkers and tissue mycolactone concentration.
Planned Impact
The results of this research will be made available to the Buruli ulcer community including scientists studying the disease and health workers of all levels. The potential benefits are that patients will receive better informed management in the future and in particular it may be possible to shorten the course of antibiotic treatment with consequent savings in resources as well as reduced discomfort for patients. The management of paradoxical reactions and oedematous disease may improve as a result of knowledge acquired during the investigation.
The research will be largely carried out in Ghana where Buruli ulcer is endemic and there will be benefits in the development of infrastructure and capacity building.
The African Research Leader will acquire new knowledge and skills that will enable him to compete in obtaining funding for future research. Support during the tenure of the award will allow him to continue building a team of researchers in Kumasi. The link between KNUST and SGUL will be strengthened and new research ideas will be generated at both institutions.
The research will be largely carried out in Ghana where Buruli ulcer is endemic and there will be benefits in the development of infrastructure and capacity building.
The African Research Leader will acquire new knowledge and skills that will enable him to compete in obtaining funding for future research. Support during the tenure of the award will allow him to continue building a team of researchers in Kumasi. The link between KNUST and SGUL will be strengthened and new research ideas will be generated at both institutions.
Organisations
- St George's, University of London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Charité - University of Medicine Berlin (Collaboration)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) (Collaboration)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (Collaboration)
- University of Groningen (Collaboration)
- Pasteur Institute, Paris (Collaboration)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) (Collaboration)
- ST GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (Collaboration)
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
Publications
Chadwick D
(2013)
Response to antiretroviral therapy in occult hepatitis B and HIV co-infection in West Africa.
in AIDS (London, England)
Klis S
(2014)
Oral treatment for patients with Buruli ulcer co-infected with HIV: think twice.
in AIDS (London, England)
Phillips RO
(2014)
Clinical and bacteriological efficacy of rifampin-streptomycin combination for two weeks followed by rifampin and clarithromycin for six weeks for treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease.
in Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Phillips R
(2014)
Clinical and Bacteriological Efficacy of Rifampin-Streptomycin Combination for Two Weeks followed by Rifampin and Clarithromycin for Six Weeks for Treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease
in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Phillips RO
(2014)
Reply to "compliance with antimicrobial therapy for buruli ulcer".
in Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Vandelannoote K
(2014)
Insertion sequence element single nucleotide polymorphism typing provides insights into the population structure and evolution of Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Sylverken AA
(2021)
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in northern Ghana: insights from whole-genome sequencing.
in Archives of virology
Phillips RO
(2018)
Spectrum of disease in HIV-positive patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital: a retrospective, cross-sectional review in Kumasi, Ghana.
in BMC infectious diseases
Amoako YA
(2021)
Co-infection of HIV in patients with Buruli ulcer disease in Central Ghana.
in BMC infectious diseases
Sarfo FS
(2014)
Kinetics of mycolactone in human subcutaneous tissue during antibiotic therapy for Mycobacterium ulcerans disease.
in BMC infectious diseases
Chadwick DR
(2015)
Tenofovir is associated with increased tubular proteinuria and asymptomatic renal tubular dysfunction in Ghana.
in BMC nephrology
George C
(2021)
The Chronic Kidney Disease in Africa (CKD-Africa) collaboration: lessons from a new pan-African network.
in BMJ global health
Adankwah E
(2021)
Aberrant cytokine milieu and signaling affect immune cell phenotypes and functions in tuberculosis pathology: What can we learn from this phenomenon for application to inflammatory syndromes?
in Cellular & molecular immunology
Sarfo FS
(2016)
Recent advances: role of mycolactone in the pathogenesis and monitoring of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection/Buruli ulcer disease.
in Cellular microbiology
Layden JE
(2015)
High frequency of active HCV infection among seropositive cases in west Africa and evidence for multiple transmission pathways.
in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Aniagyei W
(2023)
Doxycycline Treatment of Mansonella perstans-Infected Individuals Affects Immune Cell Activation and Causes Long-term T-cell Polarization.
in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Stockdale AJ
(2015)
Liver Fibrosis by Transient Elastography and Virologic Outcomes After Introduction of Tenofovir in Lamivudine-Experienced Adults With HIV and Hepatitis B Virus Coinfection in Ghana.
in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Eberhardt KA
(2015)
Helicobacter pylori Coinfection Is Associated With Decreased Markers of Immune Activation in ART-Naive HIV-Positive and in HIV-Negative Individuals in Ghana.
in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
Heinemann M
(2023)
Impact of antibiotic intake on the incidence of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in sub-Saharan Africa: results from a community-based longitudinal study.
in Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Yotsu RR
(2018)
Buruli Ulcer: a Review of the Current Knowledge.
in Current tropical medicine reports
Frimpong M
(2019)
Rapid Extraction Method of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA from Clinical Samples of Suspected Buruli Ulcer Patients.
in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
Kollie K
(2014)
Buruli ulcer in Liberia, 2012.
in Emerging infectious diseases
Phillips RO
(2014)
Infection with Mansonella perstans Nematodes in Buruli Ulcer Patients, Ghana.
in Emerging infectious diseases
Harelimana JD
(2022)
Cytokine-induced transient monocyte IL-7Ra expression and the serum milieu in tuberculosis.
in European journal of immunology
Van Der Werf TS
(2020)
Pharmacologic management of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection.
in Expert review of clinical pharmacology
Adankwah E
(2019)
Two-Hit in vitro T-Cell Stimulation Detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in QuantiFERON Negative Tuberculosis Patients and Healthy Contacts From Ghana
in Frontiers in Immunology
Lundtoft C
(2019)
An IL7RA exon 5 polymorphism is associated with impaired IL-7Ra splicing and protection against tuberculosis in Ghana.
in Genes and immunity
Sarkodie B
(2021)
Overview of preparedness and response to COVID-19 in Ghana.
in Ghana medical journal
Villa G
(2022)
Liver steatosis and fibrosis in people with human immunodeficiency virus in West Africa and the relationship with hepatitis B virus coinfection
in Hepatology Communications
Vivekanandan MM
(2023)
Plasma cytokine levels characterize disease pathogenesis and treatment response in tuberculosis patients.
in Infection
Amoako YA
(2021)
Mental health and quality of life burden in Buruli ulcer disease patients in Ghana.
in Infectious diseases of poverty
Boakye-Appiah JK
(2016)
High prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among patients with rifampicin resistance using GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin in Ghana.
in International journal of mycobacteriology
Ofori A
(2016)
Pulmonary aspergilloma: An evasive disease.
in International journal of mycobacteriology
Awua-Boateng NY
(2019)
Is pulmonary tuberculosis in pregnant women a problem in Ghana? Observations and lessons from the national tuberculosis prevalence project.
in International journal of mycobacteriology
Jansson M
(2014)
Comparison of two assays for molecular determination of rifampin resistance in clinical samples from patients with Buruli ulcer disease.
in Journal of clinical microbiology
Feldt T
(2013)
Hepatitis E virus infections in HIV-infected patients in Ghana and Cameroon.
in Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
Geretti AM
(2017)
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA screening and sequencing using dry plasma spots.
in Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology
Seyfarth J
(2019)
Type-1 diabetes onset age and sex differences between Ghanaian and German urban populations.
in Journal of diabetes
Adankwah E
(2021)
Lower IL-7 Receptor Expression of Monocytes Impairs Antimycobacterial Effector Functions in Patients with Tuberculosis.
in Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
Amoako YA
(2019)
Providing insight into the incubation period of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease: two case reports.
in Journal of medical case reports
Amoako YA
(2021)
Rabies is still a fatal but neglected disease: a case report.
in Journal of medical case reports
Nordell AD
(2014)
Severity of cardiovascular disease outcomes among patients with HIV is related to markers of inflammation and coagulation.
in Journal of the American Heart Association
Jacobsen M
(2022)
T-Cell Responses Against Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Extracts Identify Children With Buruli Ulcer Disease.
in Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Maaroufi A
(2017)
Historical epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in select countries-volume 4.
in Journal of viral hepatitis
Chen DS
(2017)
Strategies to manage hepatitis C virus infection disease burden-Volume 4.
in Journal of viral hepatitis
Chan HLY
(2017)
The present and future disease burden of hepatitis C virus infections with today's treatment paradigm: Volume 4.
in Journal of viral hepatitis
King S
(2015)
Antibody screening tests variably overestimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among HIV-infected adults in Ghana.
in Journal of viral hepatitis
Description | Chairman of Committee to develop guidance on establishment of Journal Clubs |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Development of Standard Operating Practices for Buruli ulcer care |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Development of strategic plan for medical school |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Development of travel policy for University |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Ghana National Buruli ulcer Steering Committee meeting |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | This leads to an improvement in case finding and management in Ghana |
Description | Management Board member of African Research Network on Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | As a member of the Management Board for ARNTD we have been influential in shaping the discussion on NTDs. ARNTD supports evidence-based control and elimination of NTDs from Africa by empowering current generation of African researchers. ARNTD has been involved in advocacy and have provided a collaborative Network between researchers, policy makers and implementers working towards an Africa free of NTDs. |
URL | http://arntd.org/ |
Description | Membership of committee to develop curriculum for infectious diseases for the Ghana College of Physicians |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Membership of committee to develop guidelines and a template for carrying out tracer studies at KNUST |
Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Participation in Meeting on One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization Workshop |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Participation in Steering Committee Meeting on Skin Related NTDs in Ghana |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Impact | We provided advice on the management of Buruli ulcer, Yaws and Leprosy. |
Description | Participation in WHO Regional Programme Review Group (RPRG) meeting |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Advocated for the adoption of the integrated strategy against case management- neglected tropical diseases. Attending programme managers for countries drew initial plans to adopt this new strategy. |
Description | "Laboratory support for the project Control, Elimination and Eradication of Skin related neglected Tropical Diseases in Ghana" |
Amount | € 430,092 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 3486/17 |
Organisation | ANESVAD Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Spain |
Start | 02/2018 |
End | 01/2020 |
Description | AREF Excell-2 RESEARCHER AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT |
Amount | £1,999,939 (GBP) |
Organisation | Africa Research Excellence Fund |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Gambia |
Start | 01/2021 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | American leprosy Mission |
Amount | $115,840 (USD) |
Organisation | American Leprosy Mission |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2013 |
End | 12/2017 |
Description | Building and Enhancing Regulatory Capacity in Africa |
Amount | € 281,038 (EUR) |
Funding ID | CSA2019ERC- 2671 |
Organisation | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) |
Department | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership |
Sector | Public |
Country | Netherlands |
Start | 01/2020 |
End | 12/2023 |
Description | Chronic HCV study |
Amount | $60,000 (USD) |
Organisation | Loyola University Medical Center |
Sector | Hospitals |
Country | United States |
Start | 05/2013 |
End | 05/2016 |
Description | Diabetes in Ghana and Germany-Immune pathology of early versus late disease onset and influencing genetic and environmental factors |
Amount | € 347,235 (EUR) |
Funding ID | GZ: 2019_A150 |
Organisation | Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 02/2024 |
Description | European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership Senior Fellowship Award |
Amount | € 500,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) |
Department | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership |
Sector | Public |
Country | Netherlands |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 06/2022 |
Description | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership Framework Programme for Research and Innovation |
Amount | € 9,997,501 (EUR) |
Organisation | Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) |
Department | European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership |
Sector | Public |
Country | Netherlands |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 02/2022 |
Description | German-African Cooperation Projects in Infectology |
Amount | € 776,790 (EUR) |
Organisation | German Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | German-African Cooperation projects in Infectology |
Amount | € 769,610 (EUR) |
Funding ID | GA:JA1479/9-1 |
Organisation | German Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 12/2022 |
Description | Global Health in the Time of COVID-19 - Disease Control Pilots in Ghana |
Amount | € 1,657,241 (EUR) |
Organisation | German Federal Ministry of Education and Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | Germany |
Start | 08/2022 |
End | 08/2023 |
Description | Improving experiences of severe stigmatizing skin diseases in Ghana and Ethiopia |
Amount | £4,999,182 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | Laboratory support for the control and elimination of NTDs in Ghana |
Amount | € 430,092 (EUR) |
Organisation | ANESVAD Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Spain |
Start | 06/2018 |
End | 06/2020 |
Description | Microbiome and Resistome of Mycobacteriun ulcerans lesions |
Amount | € 995,881 (EUR) |
Organisation | German Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 01/2023 |
End | 12/2026 |
Description | Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in pulmonary disease patients with presumptive tuberculosis from Ghana |
Amount | € 648,625 (EUR) |
Organisation | German Research Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Germany |
Start | 11/2022 |
End | 10/2025 |
Description | Shortening Buruli Ulcer treatment: WHO recommended vs. A novel beta-lactam-containing therapy - Phase III evaluation in West Africa |
Amount | € 1,810,033 (EUR) |
Organisation | University of Zaragoza |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Spain |
Start | 01/2024 |
End | 12/2025 |
Description | Sorbact, ABIGO Medical AB grant |
Amount | £6,280 (GBP) |
Organisation | ABIGO Medical AB |
Sector | Multiple |
Country | Sweden |
Start | 11/2014 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | The OPTIMISE Study: Optimal testing strategies for the care of people with HIV at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital |
Amount | £10,080 (GBP) |
Organisation | South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2018 |
End | 05/2018 |
Description | WHO/ TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases co sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank and WHO Impact Award 2015 |
Amount | $49,790 (USD) |
Funding ID | 2016/665689-0 |
Organisation | World Health Organization (WHO) |
Department | Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease |
Sector | Public |
Country | Switzerland |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 12/2017 |
Description | Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award to Dr Rachel Simmonds of University of Surrey. |
Amount | £2,000,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Department | Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2017 |
End | 07/2020 |
Title | Buruli RPA |
Description | Team Member Dr Michael Frimpong has developed a Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) technique for diagnosis of Buruli ulcer. RPA is a novel isothermal technology for use in molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases. Unlike many other isothermal technologies, RPA does not require elevated or precise temperature, and proceed at temperatures between 25-40 C. The technique opens the door to extending the application of DNA amplification in fieldwork and at the point-of-care. RPA replaces the thermal cycling needed for PCR with three core enzymes. Buruli RPA has been set up as a lab in a suitcase to be used as a point of care diagnostic test. A POC diagnostic test is desperately needed for Buruli ulcer. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | The notable impact is its applicability as a point of care tool. This will significantly improve access to diagnosis in endemic countries after evaluation is completed |
Description | Buruli ulcer coinfection study |
Organisation | Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | As co principal investigator the goal of this collaboration is to determine the immune response in patients with mycobacterial disease and coinfection with filarial worms Mansonella perstans. Our team was involved in study design, and implementation. Our activities included patient recruitment, diagnosis confirmation, management, sample collection, analysis, immunological assays, clinical trials and entomological studies. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided mentoring and training for group members Equipment Expertise in the laboratory |
Impact | Publications include: 1. doi: 10.3201/eid2006.131501. PubMed PMID: 24857346; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4036786. 2. doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1960-0. PubMed PMID: 28061905; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5219801. 3. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005415. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Buruli ulcer management study |
Organisation | University of Groningen |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am co principal investigator in studies set up to investigate the efficacy of full oral antibiotic (rifampicin and clarithromycin) versus rifampicin and the injection streptomycin. Our group has been central to its design and implementation. We recruited patients at 4 of our treatment sites and have treated and followed them up. |
Collaborator Contribution | Training in workshops |
Impact | Publications: 1. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002739. PubMed PMID: 24625583; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3953024. 2. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000146. PubMed PMID: 24979651. 3. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002964. PubMed PMID: 25010061; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4091870. 4. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0405. PubMed PMID: 25331802; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4347364. 5. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003303. Erratum in: PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Dec;8(12):e3418. Stientstra, Ymkje [corrected to Stienstra, Ymkje]. PubMed PMID: 25392915; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4230927.. 6. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003254. PubMed PMID: 25393289; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4230837. 7. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119926. PubMed PMID: 26030764; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4451111. 8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004076. PubMed PMID: 26402069; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4581868. 9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004594. PubMed PMID: 27097163; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4838240. 10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmyco.2016.02.004. PubMed PMID: 27242237. 11. PubMed PMID: 27621302; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5094208. 12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005261. PubMed PMID: 28033343; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5226828. 13. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Cellular immune response to M. ulcerans specific antigens |
Organisation | European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Recruitment and follow up of patients with M ulcerans diseases as well as testing of the immune response to specific M ulcerans antigens. |
Collaborator Contribution | supply of specific M ulcerans antigens |
Impact | Public Health Internal Medicine Laboratory sciences Study ongoing |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Collaboration with Charite' Unversity Berlin |
Organisation | Charité - University of Medicine Berlin |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Intellectual input in study design Training of clinicians Training of PhD Recruitment of patients and followup Data generation and providing access Access to facilities and equipment |
Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual input in study design Training of PhD Access to facilities and equipment |
Impact | In progress |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collaboration with Dr Raiko Rjlic at St Georges's University |
Organisation | St George's University of London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Dr Justice Boakye-Appiah is currently participating in immunological, molecular and microbiological exepriment with the aim of developing a vaccine against M. ulcerans and /or mycolactone.in the laboratory of Dr Raiko Rjlic. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners have provided intellectual input, laboratory space, equipment, reagents and consumables |
Impact | Dr Justice Boakye-Appiah has received training in laboratory skills as well as mentoring |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Development of WASp assay for mycolactone |
Organisation | Pasteur Institute, Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Developing assay for use with human samples |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of peptides and labelled mycolactone plus expertise |
Impact | None so far |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Fluorescent TLC collaboration for mycolactone detection (Accra) |
Organisation | University of Ghana |
Department | Department of Chemistry |
Country | Ghana |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Recruitment and providing patient samples for detection of mycolactone in urine by the fTLC assay Performing molecular analysis of samples from Buruli ulcer patients |
Collaborator Contribution | Setting up of the fTLC equipment at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) at KNUST Running fTLC analysis on patient urine samples |
Impact | 1. Fluorescent TLC equipment already set up and running |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Fluorescent TLC collaboration for mycolactone detection (Harvard) |
Organisation | Harvard University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Recruitment, follow up and providing well characterized patient samples for optimization of the fTLC assay |
Collaborator Contribution | Training of Michael Frimpong who is a member of our group in the fTLC technique in detection of mycolactone Providing technical advice on the fTLC method of detection of mycolactone |
Impact | 1. Publication of initial analysed data on fTLC assay in Plos NTD journal 2. Providing ongoing training and technical support in the field evaluation of the fTLC assay |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Implementation of viability testing for M ulcerans |
Organisation | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Recruitment of patients with M ulcerans disease Setting up 16srRNA assay at the KCCR at KNUST |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of expertise and optimisation of the 16srRNA assay |
Impact | Work in progress.. Disciplines: Public health Internal medicine Laboratory science Publications: 1. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004219. PubMed PMID: 26566026; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4643924. 2. doi:10.4172/2329891X.1000158 3. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003457. PubMed PMID: 25569674; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4287572. 4. doi: 10.3201/eid2006.131501. PubMed PMID: 24857346; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4036786 5. doi: 10.1128/JCM.03119-13. PubMed PMID: 24478404; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3993512. 6.doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001756 |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Multi-analyte profiling of serum samples from patients with Buruli ulcer |
Organisation | Pasteur Institute, Paris |
Department | Department of Immunology |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of patient serum samples |
Collaborator Contribution | Multi-analyte profiling |
Impact | 1: Niang F, Sarfo FS, Frimpong M, Guenin-Macé L, Wansbrough-Jones M, Stinear T, Phillips RO, Demangel C. Metabolomic profiles delineate mycolactone signature in Buruli ulcer disease. Sci Rep. 2015 Dec 4;5:17693. doi: 10.1038/srep17693. PubMed PMID: 26634444; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4669498. 2: Phillips RO, Sarfo FS, Landier J, Oldenburg R, Frimpong M, Wansbrough-Jones M, Abass K, Thompson W, Forson M, Fontanet A, Niang F, Demangel C. Combined inflammatory and metabolic defects reflected by reduced serum protein levels in patients with Buruli ulcer disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Apr 10;8(4):e2786. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002786. eCollection 2014 Apr. PubMed PMID: 24722524; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3983110. 3: Phillips R, Sarfo FS, Guenin-Macé L, Decalf J, Wansbrough-Jones M, Albert ML, Demangel C. Immunosuppressive signature of cutaneous Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in the peripheral blood of patients with buruli ulcer disease. J Infect Dis. 2009 Dec 1;200(11):1675-84. doi: 10.1086/646615. PubMed PMID: 19863437. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Pasteur Institute metabolomic collaboration |
Organisation | Pasteur Institute, Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Recruitment and providing well-characterised patient samples for metabolomic analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Running and analysis of serum samples by the metabolomics approach to determine metabolic markers associated with Buruli ulcer |
Impact | Data from this work has been already been published in Scientific Reports Journal 1. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002786. PubMed PMID: 24722524; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3983110. 2.doi: 10.12968/jowc.2014.23.8.417. Erratum in: J Wound Care. 2014 Dec;23(12):642. PubMed PMID: 25139600. 3.doi: 10.1038/srep17693. PubMed PMID: 26634444; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4669498. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Southampton proteomic collaboration |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Recruitment of patients with Buruli ulcer and obtaining tissue and serum samples. Providing clinical input on the study participants |
Collaborator Contribution | 1. Processed serum and tissue samples by state of the art multiplex iTRAQ LC-MS mass spectrometry. 2. Training of team in the bioinformatics aspect of the proteomics technology |
Impact | 1.Dr Michael Frimpong from my group obtained training in the bioinformatics aspect of the proteomics technology in 2015 2. Samples processed by multiplex iTRAQ LC-MS mass spectrometry (analysis of data ongoing) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | University of Surrey Coagulation study |
Organisation | University of Surrey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | As co- principal investigator on a study funded by the Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Awarded to Dr Rachel Simmonds of University of Surrey, we will fully explore the role of haemostasis (blood clotting) in the pathogenesis of BU, by focusing on endothelial dysfunction caused by mycolactone. One of my group members will be trained on this project. We contributed to study design, planning and implementation of the study in Ghana. We are involved in patient recruitment, management and follow-up. Other activities include assessment of patients for inclusion in the study, diagnostic confirmation and initial coagulation testing on blood samples. We will contribute samples for further assays in London. |
Collaborator Contribution | To provide further training for group members including training of 1 PhD candidate. To provide co-mentoring for team members. To contribute equipment and new assay techniques |
Impact | 1 Publication: doi: 10.1111/cmi.12547. Review. PubMed PMID: 26572803; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4705457 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | 40th Anniversary Scientific Conference, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Nearly 500 participants attended the 40th Anniversary Scientific Conference at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana 28th-29th November 2019 that I co chaired. There were lots of questions and positive feedback |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Attendance of WHO FIND Meeting on Diagnosis of Buruli ulcer |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Dr Mark Wansbrough-Jones will be chairing this meeting in Geneva on 25th to 27th March 2018. Two other members of the team - Dr Michael Frimpong and Bernadette Agbavor will be making presentations on the Buruli RPA for Buruli diagnosis. Our team will provide input on the strategic direction for Buruli diagnosis. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | COVID19 laboratory assessment |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Carried out a National Assessment of COVID19 laboratories to determine their gaps and successes |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Consultant training to implement Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020, 13th-17 February 2017 Addis Ababa Ethiopia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The course was attended by selected experts in programme management , monitoring and evaluation of public health programmes with particular focus on Africa. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Course (DTM&H) talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talked at the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Course (DTM&H) on Buruli ulcer. The lecture sparked lots of discussions and the school requested that I return to do the talk in 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Fluorescent Thin layer Chromatography (FTLC) as a diagnostic test for Buruli ulcer disease |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A workshop was organised with the objective of to train health workers (all participants) in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). The other objective is to train laboratory technologists on the standard protocol for detection of mycolactone by FTLC as a diagnostic test for Buruli ulcer with practical hands on approach. The FTLC has subsequently been set up in two districts where these participants came from. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Follow-up Conference for German- African Cooperation projects in Infectology, Yaounde Cameroun |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to present on "The effects of Mansonella perstans on concomitant mycobacterial infections in Ghana" as weel as "An analysis of immune responses in Buruli ulcer patients". This sparked a lot of discussions and interest. I have subsequently been invited to present in a similar meeting in 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | German-African Cooperation Projects meeting attendance |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited by the German Research Foundation to speak on the "African Research Network into Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD)" a network of post doctoral research scientists in Africa working to: Promote NTD research and control in Africa through advocacy and resource mobilization, Stimulate and strengthen research capacity in Africa, Create a sustainable collaborative network between researchers, policy makers and implementers in Africa, Disseminate evidence based information on NTDs at all levels of the health care system This talk sparked questions and there was very positive feedback |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Ghana Intra Country Coordinating Committee for Neglected Tropical Diseases |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Member of the Development and validation of Intracountry coordinating Committee action plans in a workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Grand Challenges Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to participate in workshops on "Building a Strong Research Ecosystem for Sustainable Development track". Views provided in the workshops were compiled and would contribute to the African Grand Challenges Funding programme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Grant writing workshop attendance |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited by the Research and Grants office of the KNUST to join other Senior Scientists of the University to provide training for Lecturers and Researchers on " Attracting Research Funds through proposal writing". This was well attended with lot of positive feedback and discussions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited speaker at graduate workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Postgraduate students attended the orientation programme. The topic was Research Theory (Types of research). The students participated actively |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited speaker at the Diploma in Tropical Medicine Course at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine- on topic Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Delivered a talk to an enthusiastic audience. It was really engaging with a lot of positive feedback |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited speaker at the Good Clinical Practice and Good Laboratory Practice workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a talk on 25th to 26th July 2017 on ''Good Clinical Practice and Good Laboratory Practice'' at a workshop funded by WHO TDR at the KCCR, KNUST. About 50 participants were there. They were all equipped to participate in a study on evaluation of Fluorescent Thin Layer Chromatography in Ghana. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Lecture at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was invited to deliver a lecture on Mycobaterium ulcerans disease for the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Course. This sparked a lot of questions and discussions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Meeting on PRoGReSs Model - Hepatitis B in Ghana |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The meeting of an expert panel to review input assumptions and disease burden model for Hepatitis B burden in Ghana. The outcome has been published |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | National Health Research Dissemination Symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A National Health Research Dissemination Symposium was held to discuss and disseminate research findings on the 11th-13th June , 2019, GIMPA Conference Center. There were lots of questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Online talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited to do a special online talk on Mycobacterium ulcerans disease: Buruli Ulcer [Video file]. In The Biomedical & Life Sciences Collection, Henry Stewart Talks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://hstalks.com/bs/3962/ |
Description | Pain conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to present on management of pain associated with Buruli ulcer treatment held at Agogo hospital. This meeting was organised with team from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. There were lots of discussions and a draft protocol for pain management was developed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Participation in AfOHNet Inaugural Workshop 2022- Speaker on topic "Diagnostics of viral and bacterial zoonoses- leaving no one behind |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The AfOHNet Inaugural Workshop serves as a Pan-African forum for networking and multidisciplinary engagement, with the mission of strengthening disease detection, diagnoses, and reporting in African nations collaborating across the continent. This exciting week-long event included a mixture of keynote panel presentations, dedicated thematic sessions, and lively discussions and debates on the challenges that impact building an integrated, non-duplicative One Health scientific network by sharing best practices and lessons learned from established One Health initiatives. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Participation in the Kick off meeting for implementation of the integrated Control Elimination and Eradication of Skin related NTDs in Ghana |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | This meeting was the official launch of the programme to implement an integrated programme targeting neglected skin NTDs particularly Leprosy, Buruli ulcer and Yaws. This was attended by policy makers and experts in the field sponsored by ANESVAD (a Spanish NGO). This programme will run for two years and expected to impact on 15 districts in the Ghana |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Participation in the Launch of the EDCTP Alumni Network Meeting in Johannesburg, 3-4 October 2017. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The main objectives of the two-day workshop were: To introduce an online interactive platform for EDCTP Fellows To Showcase EDCTP star alumni in success stories through plenary presentations and to brainstorm on strategies to maximise the impact of training, mentorship and retention of African researchers on the continent To explore potential benefits of increased interaction of the current EDCTP alumni with ongoing EDCTP supported regional networks and disease specific consortia. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Participation of The Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD) meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The goal of this session is to advance discussions on how activities related to the diagnosis and management of NTDs involving the skin may be integrated to strengthen both programs and health systems and to develop an operational research agenda to promote an integrated approach to diagnosis and morbidity management of NTDs involving the skin. Presented on Advances in the treatment of Buruli ulcer. The feedback was generally positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Plenary speaker for Ghana Science Association |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | on 10th Sept 2021, participants at the Ghana Science Association conference Theme: ' Mitigating COVID-19 Pandemic: Quest for Scientific and Technological Innovations. I delivered a talk on Point of Care Diagnostics and surveillance of infectious diseases research" The feedback was positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Preparatory meeting on One Health Zoonotic Diseases Prioritizing Workshop-FAO office, Accra |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The Programme forms part of the Global Health Security Agenda to plan a workshop for prioritization of the one- health zoonotic disease for funding. The definite workshop should be held on the 25th -30th of March 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentation made at a conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Prof Richard Phillips made a presentation at the German African Cooperation Projects meeting in Uganda on 'the effect of Mansonella perstans on concomitant mycobacterial infection and BCG efficacy in Ghana and Cameroun. There were many questions and discussions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Referee opportunity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Joined the AREF college of experts to the review applications for the newly instituted Africa Research Development Fellowships 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | School visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | There were questions and discussion afterwards After my talk the school expressed the desire for me to do similar talks on their course every year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Speaker World Health Summit in Berlin |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended the World Health Summit 2021 on 21st October 2021 and specifically on the track "Research Cooperations for Improving Global Health" I participated in the plenary discussion on "Best Practice Models of Sustainable Africa-Europe Research Partnerships". Out of interest may asked questions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Speaker at Inauguration of the German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (GWAC) Speaker at |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Spoke at the Inauguration of the German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (GWAC). The feedback was excellent. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Speaker at the Ghana NTD Intra-Country Coordinating Committee (ICCC) Maiden Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | As Vice Chair of the Ghana NTD Intra-Country Coordinating Committee (ICCC) held on 31st March, 2021, I provided updates for all stakeholders at the meeting. Many questions were asked and responses provided. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Speaker opportunity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The talk stimulated questions and discussion After the meeting some members of the audience expressed interest to collaborate with the Network of African Researchers in Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | St George's University Seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Spoke at the seminar meeting for the infection and Immunity institute at St George's University of London on the topic New insights for treatment of Buruli ulcer There were lots of questions and discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Stakeholder meeting attendance |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | There were lot of questions and discussions afterward Two further meetings have been held with officials of EDCTP subsequently in July 2014 (Berlin) and October 2014 (Hamburg). Fellows of the EDCTP working in the area of NTDs were invited and participated in a meeting of African Researchers in NTDs in Hamburg 2014. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Update course in infectious diseases |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Update course of 'Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons/ West African College of Physicians respiratory and infectious disease update course. As Invited speaker. Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra. 10th -13th June, 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | WHO TDR capacity building meeting 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited Speaker to workshop on "Conducting Trials in resource limited settings on Buruli ulcer'' at the WHO TDR Capacity Building meeting organised at the KCCR (KNUST) on 25th May 2017. About 50 participants were there. The talk sparked discussions and feedback was positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | WHO meeting on Buruli ulcer control and Research meeting 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I attended the WHO meeting on Buruli ulcer control and Research meeting from the 20th -22nd March 2017 in Switzerland (Geneva). At this meeting: I chaired a session on "Buruli ulcer Diagnostics", attended the Technical Advisory Group meeting and presented 2 papers: 1. "Paradoxical reactions to Mycobacterium ulcerans during antibiotic therapy" 2."RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL comparing EFFICACY OF 8 weeks treatment with clarithromycin and rifampicin VERSUS streptomycin and rifampicin for Buruli ulcer". Based on the results presented, the WHO Technical Advisory Group (TAG) updated guidelines for managing Buruli ulcer. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | WHO-FIND consultative meeting attendance |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | There were lots of questions and discussions There was consensus to further develop mycolactone detection assays for Buruli ulcers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Workshop on Effective Teaching, Proposal Writing and Manuscript Writing |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited by the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology as facilitate at a workshop on "Proposal writing", "How to publish in peer review journals" and "How to review research articles". This was very interactive and feedback was excellent. Provided mentorship for some of the faculty members after the workshop. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | invited speaker at course |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Was invited to do a talk at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine's Diploma Course in Tropical Medicine. Topic M. ulcerans disease. This sparked a lot of questions and discussion afterwards |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |