Profile
- Dr. Badu is the Principal Investigator and lead of the Vector-Borne Infectious Disease Research Group based at the Theoretical and Apllied Biology, KNUST. visit us at https://rapid-vbp.org/)
- He Holds a Ph.D. (Biological Science -immuno-Biology) and M.Phil in Clinical Microbiology from KNUST
- 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. His predoctoral research focused on quantifying transmission intensity, and identification of medically important vector species to understand their role in disease transmission. These studies highlighted the need for alternative approaches towards estimating malaria transmission intensity (MTI). Due to EIR becoming laborious, high cost and increasing inaccuracies (at low transmissions) and unethical approaches, his PhD and postdoctoral research was dedicated to developing serosurveillance tools for measuring malaria transmission intensity in the western Kenyan highlands and the forest zone of Ghana.
- He is a recipient of the prestigious Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) in 2015, the African German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) 2016 Awards and the KNUST College of Science (KNUST-CoS) Excellence Awards Senior Member for Grantsmanship. He has worked both as a staff scientist and a visiting scientist at local and international research institutions. Notably the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), KNUST, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Ghana, Yan lab UCI, USA, and the AG Kelm lab CBIB, University of Bremen, Germany. He currently serves as the Chairman for the Affiliates Coordinating Committee for the African Academy of Sciences, the Secretary to the Malaria working group to the Alumni Network of the European, Developing Countries Clinical Partnership (EDCTP). He has raised significant funding to support post-graduate training in the department Theoretical and Applied Biology here at KNUST, including ARNTD, KREF, DFG, EDCTP and NIH.
- He is a member of the African researchers in network in Neglected Tropical diseases, the Entomological Society of Ghana, the Immunological Society of Ghana and a member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.