Ghana
Fulbright-Fogarty Public Health Fellowship Award NEW
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSummer StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Specialized Grant Types
- Science/Public Health
Award Profile
The Fulbright-Fogarty fellowship in Ghana offers U.S. post-graduate students in the health sciences practical experience designing and conducting clinical research in Ghana.
Site name: West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana
The mission of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana (WACCBIP) is to conduct cutting-edge research and spearhead innovation to guide development of new approaches to disease diagnosis, prevention, and control. The priority diseases include malaria, trypanosomiasis, tuberculosis, Buruli ulcer, HIV, rotaviruses, influenza, and dengue, as well as non-communicable diseases such as cancers, chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, and diabetes. For each of the priority diseases/pathogens, research is organized into five themes:
- disease pathogenesis and immunity,
- pathogen genomics/bioinformatics,
- host genetics/genomics, host/pathogen interactions,
- molecular diagnosis, molecular epidemiology for surveillance,
- target discovery for drug and vaccine development.
There are also emerging themes in etiology of febrile illnesses in children, maternal health, and human genetics (infectious and non-communicable).
Continuously improving research environment, WACCBIP has developed a Core facility to serve as a hub for collaboration among scientists in the sub-region with access to modern research equipment for analysis of samples and other services at reasonable cost.
Services provided by the Core include high-throughput multi-color flow cytometry and cell-sorting, mass spectrometry, gene expression assays, primer synthesis, and expression and purification of proteins. In addition, the WACCBIP Core operates a laboratory supplies store, and is building capacity and expertise for servicing and repair of equipment. The major equipment items in the laboratories include four fluorescent microscopes, >10 laminar flow hoods, >20 PCR machines, >20 benchtop centrifuges, BD LSR Fortessa X-20 Flow Cytometer, Confocal microscope (Zeiss LSM800), three Quant Studio 5 Real Time PCR machines, >15 ultralow freezer (-80 °C) freezers, Liquid nitrogen plant, animal facility and a P3 lab facility. In addition, WACCBIP has installed a high-performance computing system for bioinformatics.
The WACCBIP Core facility also include a biomedical high-performance computing unit (BHPCU) to provide access to cluster computing services, and scientific software for data analyses, modeling/simulation, and information dissemination. Site Website: www.waccbip.org
Site Director:
Gordon Awandare, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana
Email: gawandare@ug.edu.gh
Site mentors:
Gordon Awandare, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana
Osbourne Quaye, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra
Elvis K. Tiburu, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
Yaw Asare Afrane, Associate Professor
Lydia Mosi, Senior Lecturer, Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
Kwadwo Ansah Koram, Professor (Research), Epidemiology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Professor of Microbiology, Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
Examples of ongoing projects:
NIH 1U54HL141011 09/18/2017-06/30/2022
SickleGenAfrica: Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of Africa
NIH 1U01HG009716 (Subaward from University of Cape Town) 09/15/2017-06/30/2022
Hearing Impairment Genetics Studies in Africa (HI-GENES Africa)
Wellcome Trust: 107755/Z/15/Z 09/01/2015-08/31/2022
WACCBIP-Wellcome Trust DELTAS Programme
World Bank: 6389-GH 01/01/2019-12/31/2023
West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious and non-communicable diseases (WACCBIP+NCDs)
WACCBIP receives significant funding from the World Bank and Wellome Trust for capacity building and these funds provide extensive resources and facilities which will be available for fellows.
Educational resources and scientific strengths of the host institution and other facilities in the community that would enhance the experience of the trainee researchers:
- The centre has a dedicated bioinformatics laboratory with high specification desktop computers loaded with the necessary software for analysis of genome sequence data.
- The centre has a High-Performance Computing (HPC) unit for handling and storage of large data.
- The centre has modern research laboratories with major equipment including a Confocal Microscope for high resolution cellular imaging and a Flow cytometer for cell analysis.
Project Contacts:
- Prof. Wafaie Fawzi: mina@hsph.harvard.edu Professor of Global Health, Nutrition, and Epidemiology; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard Chan School of Public Health
- Jordan Balletto: jballetto@hsph.harvard.edu
Affiliation: University of Ghana (UG)
For nearly 30 years, the University of Ghana has collaborated with UC Davis in research and capacity building: many key studies in maternal and child nutrition have been completed or are underway in Ghana, and several Ghanaians have received their Ph.D. from UC Davis and have returned to UG or continued to work in the international arena. UCSF has also recently started some collaborative projects in Ghana on person-centered maternity care and COVID-19 effects on health care workers.
UG faculty's research areas include infectious and non-communicable diseases, mental health, climate change, maternal and child health and nutrition, nutrition and child development, and blood safety and availability. Elements that make UG a strong partner include:
- Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) which promotes, coordinates, and facilitates research activities, as well as manages external research funds.
- International Programs Office (IPO) coordinates and promotes relations with international students and scholars. It has a variety of services, including assistance with accommodation, immigration issues, and local culture.
UG also collaborates with several other research institutions, such as the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research; Centre for Tropical, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics; the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens; the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement; and the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC).
U.S. Partner: GloCal Health Fellowship Consortium (GloCal)
Site Contact: Dr. Seth Adu Afarwuah
Affiliation name: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana, University of Ghana
Candidate Profile/Eligibility: Doctoral
Candidates must be enrolled in an MD, PhD, DDS or comparable degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to: DMD, DC, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, DPT, PharmD, ND, DSW, PsyD, JD and Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing.
Summary of site/ongoing research projects/topics of interest:
The Fulbright-Fogarty fellowship in Ghana offers US students training in in basic science, translational research, and field-based research in emerging infectious diseases (viral, bacterial, and parasitic), neglected tropical diseases, opportunistic infections, HIV and TB.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), established in 1979 as a semi-autonomous institute of the University of Ghana, is the country’s leading biomedical research facility. The Institute is committed to research on national health priorities and training of biomedical scientists. Its vision is to be a world class Institute capable of conducting high-quality cutting-edge research and training in the biomedical sciences.
Of note, the NMIMR Parasitology Department maintains laboratory cultures of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain and Leishmania species and routinely conducts PCR and DNA sequencing and parasitological analyses of urine, stool and blood (including clinical chemistry), The department also has a fully equipped entomology laboratory and insectaries. Through collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, NMIMR maintains 10 active field research stations throughout Ghana. Technical staff have extensive experience in conducting field studies on malaria, leishmania and helminth infections. The Institute also houses the administrative buildings for the West African Centre for International Parasite Control (WACIPAC), the Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre for Africa (LFSCA), and a Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS counselling and training.
The Institute’s research portfolio is diverse and includes the following areas:
· Malaria
· Soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis
· Filariasis (lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis)
· Diarrheal diseases
· Buruli ulcer
· Tuberculosis
· HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections
· Poliomyelitis
· Infant and maternal mortality
· Viral hemorrhagic fevers
· Hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell disease etc.),
US Partner/Consortia Name: Global Health Equity Scholars (GHES), Yale University
Site Contact/PI: Elijah Paintsil, FAAP, MBChB: elijah.paintsil@yale.edu
Grant Length
Grant Period
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2023.
An in-country orientation is required and is typically held the third week of August.
Orientation
As a condition of their grants, all grantees may be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation during the summer of 2023.
An in-country orientation is required and is typically held the third week of August.
In addition, grantees will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation with NIH in July.
Candidate Profile
Candidates must be enrolled in an MD, PhD, DDS or comparable degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution. Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to: DMD, DC, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, DPT, PharmD, ND, DSW, PsyD, JD and Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing.
Eligibility
Accepted Degree Levels
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
Select "Fulbright-Fogarty" for Award Type in the application.
All Fulbright-Fogarty applicants pursuing a placement in Peru should select “Public Health” as the Field of Study in the Fulbright application.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Additional Information:
English is the official language in Ghana. Study of local languages (e.g., Twi, Fanti, Ga, Dagbani, etc.) prior to arrival and while in-country is encouraged to promote deeper engagement with the community. Field researchers may need to coordinate with Ghanaian partner institutions for assistance in specific communities.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
Applicants are required to obtain a letter of support from the site contact.
When emailing project contacts, please include both contacts and attach a current CV and a concise statement (less than 500 words) about your interest in the program (especially your primary research interest).