Dr. Irene Offei Owusu
Country (Nationality)
Ghana
Grantee Title
Research area: infectious diseases, viruses
Grantee Description
Home institution: Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana
Host institution: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Dr. Offei Owusu will spend her fellowship at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Rocky Mountains Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana under the mentorship of Vincent Munster, PhD. Her research will investigate the development of a surveillance network for emerging viruses in Africa and point-ofcare diagnostic assays for detection of the emerging viruses. Her focus will be on Lassa fever which is one of the most rapidly emerging viral diseases in Africa.
Dr. Offei Owusu received a PhD in Public Health from the University of Ghana. She is a young scientist with nearly 11 years of experience in the study of NTDs specifically lymphatic filariasis. She’s led two operational research activities: The first was a Bill and Melinda Gates funded project through the Task Force for Global Health, Atlanta, titled “Resolving the Critical Challenges Now Facing the Global Program for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis; Operational Research Phases I & II.” The findings led to the development and implementation of Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS) which are being utilized by all LF endemic countries. The second was a CDC funded project, “Post-MDA Surveillance for Lymphatic Filariasis Transmission.” This project evaluated the Wb123 ELISA assay for LF elimination programme. Dr. Offei Owusu has extensive experience in fieldwork and molecular research methods as a diagnostic tool for studying the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Dr. Offei Owusu’s long term professional goal is to be a public health expert, conducting groundbreaking research that will ultimately lead to eliminating emerging viral and parasitic diseases globally.