WELCOME TO THE  Vector-borne disease EPIDEMIOLOGY AND VECTOR BIOLOGY group

Our research aims at understanding the complex vector-parasite-host interactions in order to provide innovative ways that can be exploited for disease control.

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about the RESEARCH group

We are based in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology at K.N.U.S.T. Our research aims to dissect the complex vector-parasite-host interactions in order to provide evidence-based solutions towards control of various vector-borne diseases. We conduct extensive research into protozoan parasites and vectors responsible for diseases such as Malaria, Trypanosomiasis and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Our areas of specialization include medical entomology, molecular parasitology, vector biology and ecology, seroprevalence, diagnostic testing among many others. Read more

projects in focus

RAPiD-VBP: Responsible AI for developing a Robust public health surveillance system

Our Bold Idea

Aim of the Study

Expected Outcome

Our Bold Idea

We propose a robust public health surveillance system powered by an AI-based automated vector surveillance system, with the capacity for early detection and early warning signals of potential threats to improve public health response to outbreaks.

 

  • A risk-targeted early detection surveillance system supported by climate-driven predictive models, will identify novel circulating viruses in insect vectors, humans and animals before diseases become apparent on a scale that becomes difficult to contain.
  • This will improve the capacity of public health systems to detect, prepare and respond effectively to threats.

Aim of the Study

1. Develop bio-acoustic sensors to conduct vector monitoring at unprecedented scale and low cost, replacing the current practice of light traps and manual counting with automated solutions based on responsible AI and Edge Computing.

 

2. Identify novel viruses in vectors, and animal reservoirs with the potential to replicate in humans via NGS metagenomic sequencing. Thus, ensuring readiness for outbreaks.

 

3. Develop climate and environmentally-driven, dynamical host–vector models to predict the risk of viral outbreaks in current and future climates.

 

4. Monitor Health Inequalities to characterize current realities of infectious disease pandemics on women and children within vulnerable communities to recommend.

Expected Outcome

Improve identification, collection, and cataloging of relevant data required for the research projects addressing epidemic and pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

• Strengthen and enhance capacity and prepare the next generation of leaders in responsible AI in clinical public health policy through a unique training program in an interactive environment mentored by basic, applied, and policy researchers

• Upgrade existing methods and develop new techniques and tools for bettering clinical public health outcomes

• Devise comprehensive and complementary models to inform epidemic and pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response

 

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kingsley Badu

Co-Investigator: Prof. Peter Haddawy

Project Summary

Project Objectives

Study Design

Project Summary

As international efforts towards malaria elimination increase, accurate data on transmission intensity will be crucial for directing control efforts, developing and testing new interventions, as well as predicting the effects of these interventions under various conditions. However, current tools; the entomological inoculation rate, parasite infection and serological measures have limitations in either sensitivity at low-level transmission or lack the inherent ability to track short-term changes. Again changes measured by these traditional tools reflect either parasite or vector exposure but not both.  Read more

Project Objectives

The overarching goal of the study is to validate novel malaria infectious-bite marker as a simple straightforward sero-surveillance tool to identify ‘hotspots’ and ‘hotpops’ for targeted interventions to yield maximum community-wide benefits.

Specific Objectives

  • Determine kinetic antibody response to novel infectious-bite markers, gSG6-P1, PSOP24 and CSP and to compare with newly reported up-regulated salivary gland peptides
  • To compare with parasite prevalence with parasite prevalence, and entomological indices at household levels in study populations...Read more

Study Design

This will be three -time point longitudinal community based survey at quarterly intervals cutting across both dry and rainy season.  Serological, parasitological and entomological as well as demographic data will be collected at household level.  The study will not discriminate participants in terms of age or gender but a representation of all age groups except infants of less than 6months where maternal antibodies drive immune response rather than exposure will be excluded.  Blood samples from finger prick will be taken from an average of 4 people per household from 100 households per community. Read more

Call: Career Development Fellowship (CDF)

Programme: EDCTP2

Start Date: 2018-07-01

End Date: 2021-06-30

Project Code: TMA2016CDF1605

Status:  Active

EDCTP Alumni Network: Visit site

This project is sponsored by EDCTP grant code TMA2016CDF1605

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis transmission in Ghana: Information dissemination workshop

Date: 19th May, 2021

Biography

Kingsley Badu holds a Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences, a Masters in Clinical Microbiology and a PhD in Biological Sciences. He also holds other certificates in Cell Biology and Molecular Parasitology. He has extensive experience investigating transmission of vector-Borne Infectious Diseases such as malaria, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis and lately leishmaniasis...Read more

Kingsley Badu (BSc., MPhil, PhD)

Principal Investigator, VBID-RG

Dr. Kingsley Badu is a Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He holds a MPhil degree in Clinical Microbiology and a P.hD. in Biological Sciences from TAB-KNUST.

Vector-Borne Disease Epidemiology and Vector Biology Group

Members

 

Kofi Agyapong Addo

Thomas Kwame Addison

Abdul-Hakim Mutala

Austine Tweneboah

Abbas Dawood Ackom

 Stephen Opoku Afriyie

Ophelia Asare Bediako

 

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