PRESS RELEASE

The Ghana Biomedical Convention held its 4th Annual Scientific Conference at the College of Science Auditorium, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana on from July 27th to July 29th under the theme “Harnessing Biomedical Science for National Development”. The three-day gathering brought together scientists, practitioners and students from Ghana, North America and Europe. The event was officially opened by Professor Kwabena Antwi Danso, Dean of the School of Medical Sciences and Acting Provost of the College of Health Sciences who stood in for Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST. Other dignitaries present were Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, President of the Ghana Biomedical Convention, and Professor Peter Donkor, Pro-Vice Chancellor of KNUST. Professor R.K. Nkum, Provost of the College of Science and co-host of the meeting visited later in the day. Keynote addresses were delivered by Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah (former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana) and Professor Henry Colecraft (Columbia University). Current research and new findings spanning (i) Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Research and Public Health, (ii) Genomics, Molecular and Cellular Pathology, (iii) Drug Research, Development, Treatment and Toxicology and (iv) Microbial Pathogens were presented during the oral sessions. A post-graduate student proposal session on the second day saw six students proposing original research ideas for discussion and guidance. There were satellite workshops that treated such issues as professional ethics in science for students, obtaining research funding, forming industry-university partnerships for solving nutritional problems and a hands-on laboratory workshop where students handled and used the worm Caenorhabditis elegans for simple experiments. There were also three mini sessions: (i) by Mr. Lukman Aroworamimo from Inqaba Biotec on their molecular biology products and services for African Genomics, (ii) by Dr. Akwasi Anyanful on how to write better abstracts for submission to conferences and granting agencies and (iii) by Ms. Nadia Tagoe from the KNUST College of Health Sciences on how to successfully apply for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding.
In all, there were 36 oral presentations including 6 student proposals and 23 posters. The prize for the best student proposal went to Mr. Ernest Adankwah from KNUST/KCCR for his work in viral epidemiology in Kumasi bat populations. The best student poster prize was taken by Mr. Joseph Dzaka, a 2011 BSc graduate of KNUST for his final year project work in Biochemistry on mushroom cultivation using agricultural wastes. Ms. Gifty Tetteh from the University of Ghana tied with Joseph Kwarteng of KNUST for the best student oral presentation. Ms. Tetteh presented her final year undergraduate project work in Biomedical Engineering on a low-cost sterilization system, while Mr. Kwarteng described his MPhil research in Biochemistry on lipid profiles in patients with chronic hepatitis infections.
Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana handed over the Presidency of the Convention to Dr. Akwasi Anyanful of Emory University (USA) for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Professor Solomon Ofori-Acquah of Emory University (USA) was elected Vice-President (President-elect) for 2012-2013. Dr. Eric Ofori of the University of Ghana was elected Secretary for 2011-2013 and Mr. Reuben Ayivor-Djanie (KNUST) was elected as the student board member. Professors Karen Duca (KNUST) and Winfried Amoaku (University of Nottingham, UK) were re-elected to second terms on the Board of Directors and Professor Myron Williams (Clark Atlanta University, USA) and Ms. Cherie McCown (Noguchi Memorial Institute Medical Research) were newly elected to the Board.
Sponsors of Ghana Biomed 2011 included Bruker BioSpin, Company of Biologists, Kasapreko Co. Ltd, Databank Financial Services Limited, Inqaba Biotec and the Parliament of Ghana.
The fifth meeting, Ghana Biomed 2012 will be held next July on the campus of the University of Ghana in Accra.