Research Areas/Interests
RESEARCH AREAS
Childhood asthma:
- Achieving Control of Asthma in African Children (ACACIA) – Ghana Study:
NHIR funded research in collaboration with Global Health Research Group on improving asthma outcomes in African children at Queen Mary University of London. 2018- 2021: Role - PI - International Multidisciplinary Programme to Address TB and Lung Health in Africa (IMPALA) Project: NIHR-funded LSTM Global Health research unit collaboration for capacity-building in multidisciplnary research in lung helath and TB in Ghana/Africa. Role – Project Lead - Ghana.
- Triclosan Study: study to determine the relationship between exposure to triclosan in home products and asthma severity and control in Ghanaian and Nigerian Children: Lung Health In Africa along the Life Course (LuLi) Project: MRC funded in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 2018 – 2021: Role – PI (Ghana)
- Asthma and Allergy among Ghanaian children (1993-2007)
- Collaboration with Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kintampo Health Research centre, North West Lung Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom). Funding by North West Lung Centre, Manchester and Welcome Trust: (1993-2012)
- Kumasi Asthma Studies - conducted in Kumasi, Ghana;
Bifidobacterial species in stools of Ghanaian and UK/NewZealand born infants infants.
A study to compare the prevalence of bifidobacterial species in the feces of infants born in Ghana (with a low incidence of atopic diseases) to that of infants born in affluent countries with high incidences of asthma and allergies (New Zealand and the United Kingdom). The purpose was to make a rational choice of bifidobacterial species that could be investigated with respect to their impact on the expression of cell surface markers and the production of cytokines by dendritic cells which are are principal antigen-presenting cells present at mucosal surfaces (including that of the gut), and therefore are likely to have an important role in the interplay occurring between the gut microbiota and the immune system. Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana. - Exercise-induced bronchospasm and atopy in Ghana: two surveys ten years apart:
A study to compare the prevalence exercise-induced bronchospasm (as a surrogate measure of asthma prevalence) and atopy in Ghana ten years apart. Reported Feb 2007. Funding by North West Lung Centre, Manchester and Welcome Trust:. Amount £79000. Personal Role: Principal Investigator - International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC):
Collaboration with Kintampo Health Research Centre and North West Lung Centre, Manchester, UK
- The prevalence and inter-relationships between atopic sensitization and asthma in Ghana as well as other parts of the world as part of multicentre prevalence studies on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood – International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Children: ISAAC Phase Two Study Group. Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana site.
- The effect of breastfeeding on asthma, lung function and bronchial hyperreactivity in International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) Phase II. Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana site.
- How well questionnaires perform compared with physical examination in detecting flexural eczema: International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) Phase II. Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana site.
- Multicentre study on candidate genes for wheeze and allergy: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase II.
Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana site. - International variations in bronchial responsiveness in children:
Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana site. - Effect of diet on asthma and allergic sensitisation
Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana site. - International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) Phase Two studies
(1999 on) which was conducted in Kintampo, Ghana. (i.e. Multi-country studies to assess and compare environment, lifestyle, and clinical management of asthma using objective measures of the disease. Personal Roles: Principal Investigator for Kumasi Asthma Studies (Kumasi), Co-Principal Investigator for ISAAC Phase Two Studies (Kintampo), and subsequently Principal Investigator)
Childhood Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance Activities:
Collaboration with Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service/KATH with institutional support funding from WHO.
- Rotavirus Surveillance Project (2008 to date)
A study to collect data to describe the burden of rotavirus infection in Kumasi, Ghana, and to collect information on the prevalence of circulating rotavirus strains to help assess the impact of rotavirus vaccines after introduction in Ghana. WHO/Ministry of Health Ghana co-sponsored. Personal Role: Principal Investigator
- Enteric Fever Surveillance Pilot (2016 - 2019)
A surveillance activity collect data to periodically describe the burden of Enteric Fever and circulating types of Salmonella typhi in Kumasi, Ghana, to help assess the relevance of routine vaccination in Ghana. WHO/Ministry of Health Ghana co-sponsored
Personal Role: Principal Investigator
- Congenital Rubella Surveillance Project (2003-6, 2015-date)
A study to describe the early features of congenital rubella syndrome and to develop predictors for early recognition of the disease in the public health setting. WHO/Ministry of Health, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Ghana co-sponsored.
Personal Role:Site Lead
Childhood Pneumonia:
- Management of Acute Bacterial Pneumonia in children in developing countries: 2002-2006. Collaboration with Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Oral amoxicillin versus injectable penicillin for severe pneumonia in children aged 3 to 59 months: Follow-up studies. A multicentre equivalency study to compare oral amoxicillin with injectable penicillin in the treatment of World Health Organisation-defined severe pneumonia in children. Funding: USD 78000 over 3 years by World Health Organisation (WHO). Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Kumasi, Ghana site
Young Infant Studies:
- Predictors of severe illness in young children: Follow-up studies
Funded by World Health Organization (WHO) through Applied Research in Child Health (ARCH) Project, Boston University, USA. Amount: US$89000 for 2 years. Studies to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of sick young children and to assess the clinical signs and historical factors that predict severe illness requiring hospital admission and management in these young infant. Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Ghana site.
OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
- Malaria treatment study: Zinc Against Plasmodium Study (ZAP): 1999-2002
An observational cohort study in 689 children enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of supplemental zinc among children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in order to evaluate the relation between plasma zinc concentration and the acute phase response. Conducted in collaboration with Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana and Applied Research on Child Health Project (ARCH), Boston University, USA. Funded through Kintampo Health Research Centre: Amount USD 25,000. Personal Role: Principal Investigator, Kumasi, Ghana site. - Safety of Blood transfusions in children in Ghana: 2002-2008
Funding through Cambridge University, UK and Blood Transfusion Unit, KATH. - GB virus C genotype 1 in Ghana (West Africa).
A study to describe the prevalence of GBV-C among mother-infant pairs in Ghana, and to describe the possible mode of transmission. Personal Role: Co-Investigator, Child Health, KATH, Kumasi, Ghana site
- Human erythrovirus (parvovirus) B19 and blood transfusions in Ghana:
Studies to describe the prevalence and effects of blood transfusion on human erythrovirus (parvovirus) B19-susceptible or -infected pediatric recipients: Personal Role: Co-Investigator, Child Health, KATH, Kumasi, Ghana site. - The epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV) in Ghana and its relevance to blood transfusions.
Personal Role: Co-Investigator, Child Health, KATH, Kumasi, Ghana site