Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine

AfriDx has compiled some basic information on COVID-19 and the role of diagnostics in addressing the pandemic.

Dr Michael Frimpong

Dr. Michael Frimpong is a Senior Research Fellow at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) and a lecturer at the Department of Molecular Medicine (KNUST) working on developing and implementing novel and innovative diagnostic tests for detecting Emerging and endemic infectious Diseases in resource limited settings. He holds a PhD in Immunology from KNUST and a Postgraduate Certificate in Molecular diagnostics from the Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich. Since 2014, he has contributed considerably to the understanding, development of new diagnostic tools and treatment for NTDs particularly Buruli ulcer with over 20 peer reviewed articles on the topic in high impact journals. 

Michael was one of seven scientists selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) NTD Department to train at the Harvard University in a new diagnostic technique before its evaluation in Ghana, Benin and DR Congo. The WHO Department on NTD selected him again to be trained in Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory tools at Molecular Diagnostics & Typing Laboratory, Laboratory Reference & Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention at the CDC in Atlanta, USA. In partnership with the WHO and other agencies such as American Leprosy Mission (ALM), AIM Initiative and German Leprosy and Relief Association (GLRA), Michael has supported the implementation of diagnostic networks in Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria providing technical support including quality assurance programme for diagnosis of Buruli ulcer and other NTDs. He is a member of the WHO NTD Diagnostic Advisory Group (DTAG) and Network of Buruli ulcer PCR Laboratories in the WHO African Region (BU LABNET Africa) and also serves on the Expert Panel of the Network.

Dr. Frimpong is a recipient of several grants including the prestigious European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) grant for early career scientist, International Society for Infectious Disease (ISID) grant, the African Researchers’ small grant program (SGPII) from the African Network of Neglected Tropical Diseases, TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visit Programme from The World Academy of Sciences and Germany Research Foundation.

He designed and lead the field deployment of the mobile van laboratory platform for molecular testing of COVID-19.

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Samuel Kekeli Agordzo

Mr Samuel Kekeli Agordzo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Philosophy in Microbiology. His research was focused on Toxoplasma gondii infection; seroprevalence, risk factors and haematological implications, with emphasis on pregnant women and HIV-seropositive individuals.Samuel is also interested in vector-borne infectious diseases, and played an active role in a study that sought to identify infectious bite marker for sensitive malaria detection and population-level surveillance.

Samuel is an up coming African Scientist and in his own words “My desire to acquire knowledge in molecular diagnostics for the rapid determination of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases informed my decision to work with the AfriDx team as a Research Assistant. In the immediate future, I hope to be developing low-cost diagnostic tools for infectious diseases in Africa”.

Samuel Agordzo is part of Dr Frimpong's lab.

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