Eric Darko, the first recipient of the KNUST-IVI Collaborating Center Student Fellowship, is passionate about finding tools and solutions to increase access to safe water and sanitation and control the spread of infectious diseases.

Eric Darko is from Kumasi, Ghana, where he received his B.Sc. in Biological Sciences and an MPhil. in Clinical Microbiology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). With a particular interest in environmental surveillance, the characterization of microorganisms, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Clinical Microbiology at KNUST while serving as an Assistant Lecturer.

To support his research, he received a KNUST-IVI Collaborating Center Student Fellowship, a new grant provided by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and awarded by KNUST for a Ph.D. studentship in the Health Sciences. The fellowship is a feature of the KNUST-IVI Collaborating Center which opened in July 2021 to develop and implement collaborative projects in the region and build capacity through academic and scientific exchange.

As the inaugural fellow, Darko has been tasked to lead field work in an environmental surveillance study where water samples from the ground, rivers and streams, sewage, and elsewhere are collected for the detection of Salmonella typhi, the causative organism of typhoid fever. Data from this study would be used to assess typhoid fever disease burden in the study area and also support the control of typhoid disease through environmental interventions.

“Clean Water and Sanitation, which is the sixth goal of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, are two of the biggest challenges facing African countries like Ghana. The rampant outbreak of diseases can be attributed to unsafe drinking water and improper sewage disposal,” says Darko. “The outcome of this study will help advise the community on the importance of proper sewage disposal and other measures to reduce contamination of the environment and ensure the well-being of the people.”

Specifically, his research will investigate the presence and genetic diversity of Salmonella typhi, the bacterium that causes typhoid fever, in the Asante Akim North District in Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Typhoid is a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, spread through contaminated food and drink, with the highest burden of disease in resource-poor communities. Ghana is a typhoid-endemic country, with most cases occurring in children, and especially children living in rural areas.

In addition to compiling data on the presence and circulation of typhoid-causing bacteria in the environment, the study will also “provide data on the importance of environmental surveillance as a tool for measuring the burden of microbiological agents,” says Darko. Since environmental factors, such as contaminated sources of drinking water, are significant to typhoid’s endemicity, environmental surveillance may be an effective method for assessing the potential risk of outbreaks or their aftermaths, and ultimately controlling typhoid.

In service of public health

Throughout his education and career, Darko has harbored a strong desire to engage in research that advances the health of people. He believes that the well-being of individuals in a community is fundamental to the development of their country. In fact, he notes that “a critical look at the impact of a contaminated environment on individuals” is what inspired him to pursue this surveillance study.

In addition to contributing to a growing body of research on typhoid burden, Darko says that the fellowship presents an opportunity to collaborate with, and be mentored by, experts in his field.

“Through the fellowship, I will earn valuable exposure to new ideas, techniques, and experience while learning under the guidance of renowned and experienced scholars from my research field. My supervisors happen to be my role models in the scientific research world,” says Darko.

The “Environmental surveillance investigation and molecular characterization of Salmonella typhi at Agogo in the Asante Akim North District of Ghana” study will be supervised by Dr. Michael Owusu, Prof. Yaw Adu-Sarkodie, and Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo at KNUST.

This fellowship should enable Eric to concentrate on his PhD work and the skills he will acquire to support his development as a good scientist in support of public health, according to Prof. Adu-Sarkodie, one of his mentors. He will gain experiences across microbiology, epidemiology, and public health.

IVI and KNUST have an extensive history of collaboration across infectious disease research and vaccine development, particularly in the realm of typhoid surveillance in Ghana. Our collaborations have spanned the Typhoid Fever Surveillance in Africa Program and a vaccine effectiveness trial in Agogo to assess Typbar TCV® and its ability to prevent typhoid while limiting the spread of AMR.

The KNUST-IVI Collaborating Center is the primary site for vaccination and follow-up activities in this effectiveness trial and continues to be an active station for disease surveillance, vaccine clinical development, health economics studies, and, of course, for the further advancement of emerging scientific leaders.

“Generating local public health data while helping to build up scientific champions develops context-specific and sustainable solutions to regional challenges,” says Dr. Andrea Haselbeck, Senior Research Scientist at IVI who led the implementation of the Collaborating Center and fellowship program. “Researchers who are part of the community and familiar with local challenges and risk factors that drive disease epidemiology are better situated to advance infectious disease awareness and education, and ultimately, to successfully fight endemic diseases. Through initiatives like the Student Fellowship, we aim to build lasting capacity and support future public health leaders.”

Ghana’s next generation of scientists

Darko explains that the COVID-19 pandemic was a period of scientific growth and opportunity for young researchers in Ghana, who “took leading roles to curb the problem in the country.” He adds, “Their work solving and managing the country’s health issues have also made an impact on other sub-Saharan countries and the world as a whole.”

To other students who are setting out on a career in public health, Darko advises: “The current state of the world is a result of impactful research through tremendous efforts. One needs to be focused, determined, and persevere to be successful in research. Students should read and explore more in the scientific and research world to address challenges facing their communities and the world.”

by Aerie Em

Last updated September 29, 2022