A5088618693- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Malaria Research and Control
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- BRCA gene mutations in cancer
- Reproductive tract infections research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Plant Genetic and Mutation Studies
- Male Breast Health Studies
- Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
- Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Topological and Geometric Data Analysis
Imperial College London
2022-2023
Lancaster University
2016-2022
Johns Hopkins University
2022
Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration
2022
ETH Zurich
2015-2016
Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology
2015
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Ghana
2015
Rothamsted Research
2001-2003
University of Cambridge
1995-1996
Abstract Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many key neglected tropical disease (NTD) activities have been postponed. This hindrance comes at a time when NTDs are progressing towards their ambitious goals for 2030. Mathematical modelling on several NTDs, namely gambiense sleeping sickness, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH), trachoma, and visceral leishmaniasis, shows that impact of this disruption will vary across diseases. Programs face...
A critical step in the development of Agrobacterium tumifaciens-mediated transformation is establishment optimal conditions for T-DNA delivery into tissue from which whole plants can be regenerated. The efficient inflorescence 'Baldus', a commercial wheat variety, using strain AGLI harbouring binary vector pAL156 reported here. effects various factors on and transient expression uidA gene were studied including duration preculture, vacuum infiltration, effect sonication treatments, cell...
As neglected tropical diseases approach elimination status, there is a need to develop efficient sampling strategies for confirmation (or not) that criteria have been met. This an inherently difficult task because the relative precision of prevalence estimate deteriorates as decreases, and classic survey based on random therefore require increasingly large sample sizes. More design analysis can be obtained by exploiting any spatial correlation in within model-based geostatistics framework....
The World Health Organization has recommended at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits and skilled attendants birth. Most pregnant women in rural communities low-income countries do not achieve the minimum deliver without attendants. With aim of increasing number ANC visits, reducing home deliveries, supplementing given by clinics, a proposed system based on low-cost mobile phones portable ultrasound scan machines was piloted. A sample 323 from Central Region Ghana were followed within...
Fusarium moniliforme , the imperfect stage of ascomycete Gibberella fujikuroi is an economically important pathogen with a very wide host range. The genetic characteristics isolates fungus collected from different regions Ghana maize, rice and sorghum were determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques. pathogenicity was also compared on maize rice. fingerprints detected as RFLPs ribosomal RAPDs separated into discrete...
Maps of the geographical variation in prevalence play an important role large-scale programs for control neglected tropical diseases. Precontrol mapping is needed to establish appropriate intervention each area country question. Mapping also postintervention measure success efforts. In absence comprehensive disease registries, efforts can be informed by 2 kinds data: empirical estimates local obtained testing individuals from a sample communities within region interest, and digital images...
Abstract Background As the prevalences of neglected tropical diseases reduce to low levels in some countries, policymakers require precise disease estimates decide whether set public health targets have been met. At prevalence levels, traditional statistical methods produce imprecise estimates. More modern geospatial can deliver required level precision for accurate decision-making. Methods Using spatially referenced data from 3567 cluster locations Ethiopia years 2017, 2018 and 2019, we...
Undernutrition among children under 5 years of age continues to be a public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries can lead growth stunting. Infectious diseases may also affect child growth, however their actual impact on the latter difficult quantify. In this paper, we analyse data from 20 Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) conducted 13 African investigate relationship between malaria Our objective is make inference association incidence during first year life...
Current methods for the design and analysis of neglected tropical disease prevalence surveys largely rely on classical survey sampling ideas that treat data from different locations as an independent random sample probability distribution induced by a design. We set out alternative, explicitly geospatial paradigm can deliver much more precise estimates variation in over country or region interest. describe advantages this approach under three headings: streamlining, whereby results be...
Monitoring malaria transmission is a critical component of efforts to achieve targets for elimination and eradication. Two commonly monitored metrics intensity are parasite prevalence (PR) the entomological inoculation rate (EIR). Comparing spatial temporal variations in PR EIR given geographical region modelling relationship between two may provide fuller picture epidemiology inform control activities. Using geostatistical methods, we compare patterns Plasmodium falciparum using data...
Trachoma is the commonest infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Efforts are being made to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem globally. However, prevalence decreases, it becomes more challenging precisely predict prevalence. We demonstrate how model-based geostatistics (MBG) can be used reliable, efficient, and widely applicable tool assess elimination status trachoma.We analysed surveillance data from Brazil, Malawi, Niger. developed geostatistical Binomial models trachomatous...
The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to determine the mating groups of several members Fusarium section Liseola recovered from maize, rice and sorghum collected different locations in Ghana. Three were identified, A, D F, which all A F isolates confirmed by studies. Fertile crosses also obtained involving two identified as belonging population. Variability within population isolated seeds stem‐bases maize investigated whether sub‐structuring this related host tissue...
Progress towards elimination of trachoma as a public health problem has been substantial, but the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted community-based control efforts.We use susceptible-infected model to estimate impact delayed distribution azithromycin treatment on prevalence active trachoma.We identify three distinct scenarios for geographic districts depending whether basic reproduction number and treatment-associated are above or below value 1. We find that when is <1,...
In ultrasound imaging, manual extraction of contours fetal anatomic structures from echographic images have been found to be very challenging due speckles and low contrast characteristic features. Contours extracted are therefore associated with variability human observers. this case, the that not reproducible hence reliable. This challenge has called for need develop a method can accurately segment structures. will help estimate measure bodies such as head circumference, femur length, etc....
Multiple diagnostic tests are often used due to limited resources or because they provide complementary information on the epidemiology of a disease under investigation. Existing statistical methods combine prevalence data from multiple diagnostics ignore potential overdispersion induced by spatial correlations in data. To address this issue, we develop geostatistical framework that allows for joint modelling considering two main classes inferential problems: (a) predict gold-standard using...
Declines in malaria burden Uganda have slowed. Modelling predicts that indoor residual spraying (IRS) and mass drug administration (MDA), when co-timed, synergistic impact. This study investigated additional protective impact of population-based MDA on prevalence, if any, added to IRS, as compared with IRS alone standard care (SOC).The 32-month quasi-experimental controlled before-and-after trial enrolled an open cohort residents (46,765 individuals, 1st enumeration 52,133, 4th enumeration)...
The estimation of gestational age is done mostly by measurements fetal anatomical structures such as the head and femur. These measurement are also used in diagnosis growth assessment. Manual operator dependent hence subject to variability.
The elimination of onchocerciasis through community-based Mass Drug Administration (MDA) ivermectin (Mectizan) is hampered by co-endemicity Loa loa, as individuals who are highly co-infected with loa parasites can suffer serious and occasionally fatal neurological reactions from the drug. test-and-not-treat strategy testing all participating in MDA has some operational constraints including cost limited availability LoaScope diagnostic tools. As a result, Antibody (Ab) Rapid Test was...
User-friendly interfaces have been increasingly used to facilitate the learning of advanced statistical methodology, especially for students with only minimal training. In this paper, we illustrate use MBGapp teaching geostatistical analysis population health scientists. Using a case-study on Loa loa infections, show how can be teach different stages in more interactive fashion. For wider accessibility and usability, is available as an R package Shiny web-application that freely accessed any...
Abstract Background Progress towards elimination of trachoma as a public health problem has been substantial, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted community-based control efforts. Methods We use susceptible-infected model to estimate impact delayed distribution azithromycin treatment on prevalence active trachoma. Results identify three distinct scenarios for geographic districts depending whether basic reproduction number and treatment-associated are above or below value one. find that when...
Breast self-Examination (BSE) is the cheapest most recommended Cancer (BC) preventive tool for resource deprived settings. There paucity in Attitude research domain of BSE literature. The purpose this study to assess combined and exclusive gender attitude undergraduate health trainees determine significant difference between scores both genders. Online cross-sectional method was used 336 mixed purposively sampled KNUST College Health Sciences (CoHS) students. Compared constructors&rsquo;...
Abstract Background: Declines in malaria burden Uganda have slowed. Modelling predicts that indoor residual spraying (IRS) and mass drug administration (MDA), when co-timed, synergistic impact. This study investigated additional protective impact of population-based MDA on prevalence, if any, added to IRS, as compared with IRS alone standard care (SOC). Methods: The 32-month prospective quasi-experimental controlled before-and-after trial enrolled an open cohort residents (46,765...
Abstract Monitoring malaria transmission is a critical component of efforts to achieve targets for elimination and eradication. Two commonly monitored metrics intensity are parasite prevalence (PR) the entomological inoculation rate (EIR). Using geostatistical methods, we investigate relationship between Plasmodium falciparum PR EIR using data collected over 38 months in rural area Malawi. Our results indicate that hotspots identified through partly overlapped during high seasons but not low...