Immunology in Africa: Telling Our Stories

Prof. Samuel Essien-Baidoo is an Associate Professor in Laboratory Medicine at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and a Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science. His research is dedicated to exploring the intricate interplay between natural and artificial determinants of adverse health outcomes, particularly in the context of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Away from research, Prof. Essien-Baidoo has a wealth of administrative experience, having served as the founding Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science and held many other positions at UCC, Ghana. He has also shown deep commitment to community service and mentorship by supporting and guiding student volunteers engaged in various initiatives, spanning livelihood empowerment, environmental sanitation, and reproductive health. In this episode, Prof. Essien-Baidoo shares highlights of his research exploring the link between vaginal microbes, the immune system, and the onset of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Ghanaian women. Findings from this study will inform cervical cancer screening and management in at-risk women. Connect with him/learn more about his work here and across ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠, ⁠and ⁠⁠ResearchGate⁠⁠. The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 01:20 - overview of academic and research journey 05:11 - findings from PhD research 07:44 - growing up and developing interest in immunology, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases 11:48 - highlights of research on vaginal microbiota and cervical cancer risk (findings, implications, next steps, etc.) 27:28 - interest and work in health and research ethics 33:30 - challenges and how he's dealt with them 42:18 - updates from IUIS Cape Town 2023 46:10 - final words 49:00 - outro

Dr. Oghenebrume Wariri is a Clinical Research Fellow in Vaccines and Immunity at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM. His research focuses on vaccine epidemiology, particularly examining the performance of country-level immunization systems and investigating how broader demand- and supply-side factors influence the delivery and uptake of routine childhood vaccination in West Africa. Dr. Wariri received his Medical Degree (MBBS) from the University of Benin (Nigeria) and specialized as a Paediatrician after completing a six-year residency training program, earning a Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians. He obtained his MSc in Global Health as a fully-funded Chevening scholar from the University of Aberdeen, UK and has previously held a Wellcome Trust Global Health Clinical Research Training Fellowship at Imperial College London. His PhD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) investigates the burden, spatial pattern, and drivers of untimely routine childhood vaccination in The Gambia. Dr. Wariri sits on the five-member WHO National Verification Committee (NVC) for Measles and Rubella in The Gambia and is also a member of the Management Committee of the Vaccine Centre at LSHTM. He was the Principal Investigator of the recently concluded EDCTP-funded TIMELY study, which investigated the spatial pattern of untimely routine childhood vaccination in The Gambia and the 2023 African Visiting Fellow to the Office of Population Research (OPR) at Princeton University. In July 2023, Dr. Wariri was awarded the five-year Fogarty Emerging Global Leader award (K43) from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to map zero-dose prevalence, delayed measles vaccination, and the risk of measles outbreaks in The Gambia. In this episode, we delve into his career journey, highlighting his contributions toward improving access to vaccines in children. Alongside providing updates on his recent award, Dr. Wariri also had a lot of nuggets to share with African scientists on collaborations and research translation. Connect with him/learn more about his work via ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠, ⁠LSHTM⁠, and ⁠ResearchGate⁠. The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠X⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠. Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 02:57 - overview of academic and research journey 07:33 - how interest in vaccine epidemiology developed 12:17 - highlights, findings, and implications of research projects 16:17 - comments on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected vaccination rates 20:46- factors influencing low/high vaccination rates/coverage in various countries 26:16 - on winning the Fogarty Emerging Global Leader Award 33:52 - fostering intra-continental research among African scientists 41:51 - comments on translation of research findings in Africa 46:43 - final words 50:00 - outro

Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Episode 6 of 6) Kumba Seddu started her PhD journey at Johns Hopkins University where she investigated male and female immune differences to viral vaccines and infections. Her research added to the growing evidence that vaccinated females have greater antibody responses than males. This increased vaccine-induced antibody response in females is due to hormonal (estrogen) effects and sex chromosome (XX) effects. Now at Harvard Medical School, she is studying the gene expression and immune cell activation cascade upon interleukin-2 [IL-2] cytokine stimulation. IL-2 treatment has implications from infection to autoimmune diseases and cancer. She has won several awards including the U.S National Institute of Health Specialized Centers for Research Excellence award, the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health award, and the Paul Farmer Honorary award. Kumba is passionate about equipping researchers and young leaders from low- and middle-income countries to end infectious diseases and solve global challenges. This goal drives her commitment to mentoring students around the world and to leading community solution-driven projects in her home country, Sierra Leone. In this episode, she shares her inspiring journey from Sierra Leone to the United States, where she's currently pursuing her PhD in the field of immunology [Kumba's current research explores immune responses to the cytokine, interleukin-2 (IL-2)]. As usual, we also get to hear her thoughts on the current state of immunology in Africa as well as approaches for advancing research in the field. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 02:43 - overview of academic and research journey 04:50 - how interest in immunology developed 08:03 - updates from research on sex differences and immune responses (at Johns Hopkins University) 12:50 - updates from research on IL-2 and immune responses (at Harvard Medical School) 15:47 - implications of research findings on infectious diseases 23:22 - life in graduate school (managing failures and successes; most favourite & least favourite experiments) 31:25 - core guiding principles 38:20 - thoughts on promoting immunology and scientific research in Africa 45:40 - fun task (share a eureka moment from the lab) 48:32 - outro

Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 5 of 6) Ubong Ekperikpe is a Ph.D. candidate in the Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he studies obesity and kidney diseases. He trained as a Pharmacist at the University of Jos, before earning a master's degree in Pharmacology at the University of Benin, both in Nigeria. He has also served as a Junior Research Fellow at the School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.  Ubong’s current research is focused on understanding the role of macrophage inflammatory protein 3-alpha (MIP3α) and interactions between antigen-presenting cells and T-cells in the progression of kidney injuries in children with obesity. Findings from this research will not only enhance our understanding of how these immune cells contribute to the onset of kidney diseases but also inform the design of appropriate therapies. Cooking is one of Ubong's most enjoyable things to do, and he's been honing his skills since he turned 9. In this episode, Ubong shares findings from his PhD work exploring the immunology-link between obesity and kidney diseases in children. He also provides useful updates on his experience as a graduate student and thoughts on promoting immunology research in Africa. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 02:29 - overview of academic and research journey 06:54 - blending background in pharmacy and research in immunology 08:32 - current research intersecting obesity, kidney diseases, and immunology 22:00 - implications of research for Africa's childhood obesity burden 28:30 - BONUS: linking kidney diseases and sleeping sickness in Africa 32:25 - life in graduate school (a typical day in the lab; managing failures and successes; on cooking) 39:34 - thoughts on promoting immunology and scientific research in Africa 43:36 - core guiding principles 46:40 - fun task (what one advice would you give to your younger self?) 51:35 - outro

Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 4 of 6) Tatenda Murangi completed his bachelor's degree in Biology, majoring in Tropical Disease Biology, at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe. He is currently a PhD Candidate in Clinical Science and Immunology at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, where he studies alpha-gal allergy. His PhD work, which builds on his MSc research explores the role of parasitic infections in the onset of this allergy and is jointly supervised by Professors Michael Levin and William Horsnell. Alongside being an Immunopaedia ambassador, Tatenda is also passionate about science communication. In this episode, we talk about his research on the link between the not-so-popular alpha-gal allergy and parasitic infections. Tatenda also shared his thoughts on how African scientists can better promote and strengthen science research and engagement in the continent. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 02:16 - overview of academic and research journey 04:00 - why immunology research/at what point did you decide to explore immunology? 07:23 - journey to current research intersecting immunology and parasitology 09:45 - on alpha-gal allergy 18:53 - exploring the link between parasitic infection (via tick and mite bites) and alpha-gal allergy 24:20 - where has alpha-gal allergy been reported? 27:30 - how do we manage the allergy? 31:42 - life in graduate school (typical research experiments; managing failures and successes; guiding principles) 44:20 - thoughts on promoting immunology and scientific research in Africa 52:00 - fun task (what's one thing you love that you've not given much attention to since you got into graduate school?) 56:50 - outro

Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 3 of 6) Marah Grace Chibwana holds a medical degree (MBBS) from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and an MSc in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford. For her PhD, she was recently awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to read for a DPhil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the University of Oxford. Building on her MSc research, her PhD will focus on understanding the factors that drive neutrophil behaviour and heterogeneity. Findings from this study will contribute to improving the health outcomes of individuals living with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune / inflammatory conditions. As an up-and-coming clinician-scientist in Immunology, Marah strongly believes in the translation of basic medical science research into bedside patient care and policy formulation to overcome diseases and improve health outcomes both locally and globally. She is also passionate about training the next generation of scientists and currently runs a science club where she mentors young people in her country to pursue careers in science. In this episode, we delve into her work on understanding and developing better therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, which ties into her overall goal of improving health outcomes in inflammatory diseases. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 02:45 - overview of academic and research journey 05:40 - why immunology research? 08:25 - MSc research + implications for Africa 13:40 - current research + plans for PhD 19:07 - overlap between background in COVID-19 and current work in rheumatoid arthritis 20:33 - life in graduate school (typical research experiments; favourite task or activity; managing failures and successes) 30:10 - perspectives and attitudes to life 34:40 - thoughts on promoting immunology research and science/STEM in Africa 43:20 - fun task (what would you have been if you weren't a scientist?) 46:20 - outro

Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 2 of 6).  Doudou Georges Massar Niang grew up aspiring to be a professional basketball player — but he's now enamored with the field of immunology. With a doctor of Pharmacy and two Masters degrees from Cheikh Anta Diop University, Doudou's background spans hematology, cancer immunology and genetics. He has spent the last four years of his PhD exploring the roles of galectin-3 and various cytokines on breast cancers. The overall goal of his research is to understand how galectin-3 might be used as a biomarker and therapeutic target in various malignancies, particularly breast cancers. In this episode, he shares some of the interesting findings he's made so far and the implications they hold for breast cancer patients in Africa. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 02:20 - overview of academic and research journey 06:20 - why he got interested in immunology research? 10:25 - current research in graduate school + findings + implications 18:40 - on triple-negative breast cancers 21:00 - implications of current research for Africa 25:00 - life as a graduate student (typical day, lab work, coping with failure and success, etc.) 28:20 - challenges of studying in Senegal/Africa: funding, skills, etc. 34:22 - dealing with successes and failures 37:04 - creating more opportunities to promote immunology research in Africa 41:10 - guiding principles and perspectives 43:04 - fun task (what's your favourite immune cell) 45:10 - plans post-PhD 47:04 - outro

Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 1 of 6). Richard Adeleke (DVM) trained as a veterinarian at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he first took an interest in immunology and vaccine development. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Cornell University, USA, and works in Professor Hector Aguilar-Carreno's Lab. His research centres around vaccine development for viruses with pandemic potential, specifically SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) coronaviruses. He also studies virus-host interactions and immune responses to vaccination. Outside the lab, Richard enjoys watching movies and meeting new people from diverse backgrounds. In this episode, we talk about a whole lot of fascinating things from how the desire to solve a problem got him hooked to the field of immunology and vaccine development to the promises his current research offers for navigating future pandemics in Africa and beyond. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 02:10 - overview of academic and research journey; why immunology (and vaccine development)? 06:37 - current research in graduate school 12:22 - implications of current research for Africa 19:13 - life as a graduate student (lab work, coping with failure and success, etc.) 29:30 - core guiding principles 32:07 - thoughts on immunology research in Africa 37:20 - final thoughts + fun task (reverse-spell 'neutrophil') 41:52 - outro

Abena Amoah (PhD) is the lead for the HypoVax Global Knowledge Hub based at Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases of the Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, in the Netherlands. The knowledge hub is focused on understanding variations in vaccine responses across geographical areas and populations. It aims to address the central question of why weaker responses to some vaccines are seen in some regions compared to others and brings together researchers from around the world to make connections and form a strong network. Originally from Ghana, Dr. Amoah was born and raised in Southern Africa. She holds a PhD. in immunoepidemiology from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, an MSc in epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Mount Holyoke College, United States. She has also held post-doctoral positions at both the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine based overseas in Malawi and Leiden University Medical Center. In this episode, we explored her research career starting from her earliest foray into addictive diseases in the US, through her relocation to Ghana, which led her into the field of immunology and, by extension, her current role. The crux of this episode is the promises the project she oversees at the HypoVax Global Knowledge Hub⁠ hold for Africa, especially in the context of vaccine development and distribution. Visit www.hypovax.org to learn more about this project, make inquiries, or explore opportunities for collaboration. Time stamps: 00.00 - intro; 02.37 - overview of educational and research background; 09.43 - blending immunology and epidemiology (immuno-epidemiology); 12.08 - the long, winding journey to her current role in understanding vaccine responses in different populations; 19.30 - more on understanding vaccine responses (promises for Africa); 26.51 - challenges associated with the project; 33:28 - final words (words of advice for emerging and established scientists, on navigating career post-PhD, etc.); 38.45 - outro

Chinedu Alphonsus Ugwu (PhD) holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with distinctions from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Master of Science in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford, UK, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Sciences from the University of Cambridge, UK. He specializes in translational immunology, vaccine, immunotherapeutic designs for pathogens, and one health approach to tackling disease outbreaks. He currently lectures in the Biological Sciences Department at Redeemer’s University, taking undergraduate and postgraduate classes in immunology, virology, bioethics, biosafety, and biological techniques. He also doubles as a post-doctoral research fellow at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID), where he leads several projects. One such projects is a Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC)-funded project on One Health and accelerating Vaccines for Ebola and Lassa Fever (OVEL). His research focuses on understanding how the immune system modulates the outcome of viral infections. By elucidating the correlates of protective immune response to viral infections such as Lassa fever virus, SARS-CoV-2, and other endemic viral diseases in West Africa, he aims to contribute to vaccine and therapeutic designs, diagnostics production, and informed public health policies for the diseases. This episode explored Dr. Ugwu's works on viral diseases with a specific focus on his recent publication which evaluated immune responses to the Lassa Fever Virus in survivors and exposed contacts of the disease. You can learn more about the publication here (www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26045-w). Time stamps: 00.00 - intro; 02.20 - overview of education and current role; 04.50 - why immunology research?; 08.10 - overview of research in immunology; 12.10 - recent publication: findings and implications + questions; 29.10 - what are you up to now?; 33.40 - the impact of existing immunity on vaccination; 37:55 - how the field of immunology can inform the discovery of new/misdiagnosed diseases?; 47:00 - final words; 50.25 - outro