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The WANIDA Symposium program

The WANIDA research network of excellence organized its first Hybrid Symposium from March 8 to 10, 2023 in Accra, Ghana on the theme: "INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE ERA OF GLOBAL CHANGE: INNOVATIVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY PANAFRICAN EFFORTS TO BUILD CAPACITY IN AFRICA".

THE PROGRAM :

8th march 2023
THE AFRICAN HEALTH CHALLENGES
WACCBIP - Conference Room
Main Entrance in front of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Volta Road, Accra (within the University of Ghana, Legon Campus)

9h to 10h: Opening Ceremony

  • Master of ceremony: Prof. Gordon AWANDARE FGA, ProVC ASA UG, Director WACCBIP
  • Opening remarks: Prof. Gordon AWANDARE FGA, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs (ASA), University of Ghana, Director WACCBIP, Chairperson WANIDA
  • Chair person: Prof. Nana Aba AMFO Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana
  • Guest of Honour : Dr. Patrick KUMA-ABOAGYE, Director General, Ghana Health Service 
  • Guest of honor: Prof. Oyewole OLUSOLA, Association of African Universities (AAU)
  • Stakeholders:
  • Ekua BENTIL, Senior Education Specialist, World Bank (TBC) 
  • Jules Armand ANIAMBOSSOU, Ambassador of France in Ghana, represented by Florent ENGELMANN Jean Hugues DE FONT REAULX, Deputy director, Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
  • Keynote speaker : Dr. Patrick DUFFY, Chief, Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology; Chief, Vaccine Development Unit; Chief, Pathogenesis and Immunity Section, National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD

10 a.m.: Family picture and Poster Session

11h to 13h: Emerging Health Challenges and Building Surveillance systems within the One Health
Framework

Session Chair: Dr. Gloria AMEGATCHER
11h to 11h 20 / Plenary 1
Dr. Isah Abubakar ALIYU, Africa Center of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP), Bayero University Kano, Nigeria
Tracking SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Nigeria to Guide Public Health Intervention

11h20 to 11h 40 / Plenary 2
Prof. Ousmane KOITA, Director, Laboratory of Applied Molecular Biology (LBMA), University of the Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali
Covid-19 pandemic: Surveillance and Monitoring of Population of SARS-CoV-2 in a network of diagnosis laboratories in Mali

11H40 to 12h /Plenary 3
Dr. Issa DIARRA, Laboratory of Applied Molecular Biology, Mali
Circulating Emerging Viruses: Zika, Chikungunya and O'nyong nyong virus seroprevalence study in Mali

Session Chair: Dr. Jacques KPODONOU
12h to 12h20 / Plenary 4
Dr. Firmin KRA, Socio-anthropologist, Robert Koch Institute, Unesco Chair in Bioethics/Université Alassane Ouattara, Ivory Coast
& Prof. Alice DESCLAUX, MD, PhD, Medical anthropologist, DR TransVIHMI (University of Montpellier, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD))
How to get prepared for considering the social dimensions of pandemics? A training initiative

12h20 -13h / Round table 1
Emerging Health Challenges and Building Surveillance systems within the One Health Framework
Moderator: Jacques Kpodonu, MD, FACC, Cardiac surgeon Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Assistant Professor Surgery Harvard Medical School

- Dr. Joseph Oliver COMMEY, Acting Director, Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC)
- Dr. Janeth George LAUREAN, Postdoctoral fellow, SACIDS Foundation for One Health-Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania
- Dr. Benedicta Ayiedu MENSAH, Research Fellow / Quality Manager, Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana
- OnlineProf. Onikepe FOLARIN, Deputy Centre Leader, ACEGID, Redeemer's University, Nigeria; WANIDA partner

14h30 - 16h10 Strategies for vector-borne disease control and elimination

Session Chair: Dr. Peter QUASHIE
2:30 - 3:10 pm / Keynote speaker:

Dr. Claude OEUVRAY, Head of Global Health Development Program (Malaria), Merck, Germany
Insights on Merck Global Health integrated innovation and partnership strategy as a way to transfer decisioning to African stakeholders
& Delalih MANTEAU, Project Manager, Merck Global Health Institute Insights on Merck Global Health integrated innovation and partnership strategy as a way to transfer decisioning to African stakeholders

15h10 - 15h30 / Plenary 5Online
Dr. Claudia DEMARTA, Global Health Scientist, Merck, Germany
The value of P. falciparum field isolates for the prioritization of drug combinations to derisk malarial drug development: the case of Cabamiquine (M5717) - Pyronaridine

15h30 - 15h50 / Plenary 6Online
Dr. Fredy Brice SIMO NEMG, Postdoctoral fellow, Centre for Research in Infectious Disease, Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon (TBC)
Clinical, Biochemical and virological study of the co-circulation of plasmodium, SARS-CoV-2, dengue and chikungunya in febrile patient's in two hospitals of Yaoundé VI

15h50 - 16h10 / Plenary 7
Dr. Etienne BILGO, Senior Postdoctoral Researcher, ARISE grantee, Wellcome Trust Fellow, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), CEA/ITECH-MTV, Burkina Faso
Wolbachia-conferred protection of African Ae. aegypti against the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pingshaense

16h15 University of Ghana guided tour (optional)

20h WANIDA Symposium Gala Diner at the Fiesta Royale Hotel (on invitation)

9th march 2023
PAN AFRICAN RESPONSES TO HEALTH CRISES
FIESTA ROYALE HOTEL - CEDAR Conference Room
George Walker Bush Highway, North Dzorwulu, Accra, Ghana

9h to 12h30: Success Stories in response to past and emerging infectious diseases

Session Chair: Sylvie BOYER, Aix Marseille University/IRD
9h - 9h10
Prof. Nicaise NDAM, Research Director, IRD; Adjunct Professor, University of Ghana, Scientific advisor, WANIDA, IRD Regional Representative for Benin, Nigeria, Togo and Ghana

9h10 - 9h50 / Keynote SpeakerOnline
Dr Yaw BEDIAKO, CEO Yemaachi Biotechnology, Ghana

9h50 - 10h10 / Plenary 8
Dr. Peter Kojo QUASHIE, Deputy Director Research, WACCBIP, University of Ghana
The Silver Lining: The Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Research at WACCBIP

10h10 - 10h30 / Plenary 9
Umar YUNUSA, RN, MSc, FWACN, Lecturer, Department of Nursing Sciences, Bayero University Kano, African Center of Excellence in Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP), Bayero University Kano, Nigeria (TBC)
Effect of Mobile Phone Text Message and Call Reminders in the Completeness of Routine Childhood Immunization in Kano State, Nigeria

Coffee break and Poster Session

Session Chair: Peter Kojo QUASHIE
11h - 11h15 / Oral 1 Room 1
Kesego TAPELA, PhD student, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana (WANIDA fellow)
Deciphering the Cellular Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 and link to Malaria exposure in Ghanaian COVID-19 patients
And in parallel
Oral 6 Room 2:
Idrissa DIENG, Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Placement of portable laboratory based on Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) in low income settings reveal the circulation of Dengue virus serotype 1 of Asian Origin in Senegal

11h15 - 11h30 / Oral 2 Room 1 Online
Francine Berlange SADO YOUSSEU, PhD student, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, Cameroon
Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever virus in domestic ruminants in Cameroon
And in parallel
Oral 7 Room 2
Djèlili BIAOU, Phd Student, IRD Université de Paris Cité
Influence of schistosome hybrids in the modulation of the antibody response directed against Plasmodium falciparum vaccine candidate antigens.

11:30 - 11:45 / Oral 3 Room 1
Priya GODARA Online, PhD student, Central University of Rajasthan, India (TBC)
A rational approach for designing peptide-ligand conjugates-based immunotherapy against the complicated malaria
And in parallel
Oral 8 Room 2
Franklin Yengdem NUOKPEM, PhD student, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana
Sequence, structure, and antibody profile of the circumsporozoite protein from three Plasmodium species

Session Chair: Dr. Mariama Sadjo DIALLO
11h45 - 12h / Oral 4 Room 1
Umar SAIDU, Master's student, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Cell-based screening of Merck KGaA's health care open global health library for identification of new drug candidate for the treatment of schistosomiasis
And in parallel
Oral 9 Room 2
Edem ADIKA, Master's student, WACCBIP, University of Ghana
Molecular Determinants of Plasmodium falciparum Antimalarial Drug Tolerance in Ghana

12h - 12h15 / Oral 5 Room 1 Online
Abdoulie O. TOURAY, PhD student, McGill University, Canada
Allosteric regulation of repressor-activator protein 1 by PI(3,4,5)P3 controls on and off switching of telomeric expression sites in trypanosomes
And in parallel
Oral 10 Room 2
Fatoumata SECK, PhD student, CEA/ITECH-MTV, Université Nazi Boni, (WANIDA fellow)
Genetic diversity of genes involved in the fertility and vector competency of the major malaria vectors from Sub-Saharan Africa

12:15 - 12:30 p.m.
Presentation IRCB / CERPAGE, Benin
And in parallel
Oral 11 Room 2
Gabriella ESSUMAN, Master's student, WACCBIP, University of Ghana
Antileishmanial Activities of Natural and Synthetic Compounds on Leishmania donovani

2:30 - 3:30 pm Three Minute Thesis Challenge

15h30 to 18h: Multi-actors dialogue for a Pan African response to Health crises

Session Chair: Prof. Amidou SAMIE
15h30 - 15h50 / Plenary 10
Dr. Sonou Dit Balla DIARRA, Ministry of Health, Mali Online
Is annual mass treatment against schistosomiasis and geohelminthiasis in Ségou, Mali justified? Proposals for alternative improvement strategies

15h50 - 16h10 / Plenary 11
Dr. Funmilola ADEFOLALU, Department of Biochemistry Federal University of Technology, Minna; ACEMFS Nigeria
Evaluation of culex mosquito susceptibility o organophosphate, organocarbamate and pyrethroid insecticides in Minna, Niger State

Session Chair: Dr. Mamadou DIALLO
Moderator : Hélène Kirchner, Scientific coordinator of the Digital Science and Technology Network, INRIA
16h30 - 17h10 / Round table 2: Innovative technologies in response to Africa's Health Challenges
- Dr. Adewoyin OGUNMOLASUYI, Postdoctoral fellow, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Prof. Daouda MAMA, Director, National Water Institute Benin (Sustainable Water management network/NET-WATER)
- Online Dr. Mouhamadou Lamine BA, AI-based analytical framework for the prevention and the monitoring of cardio-vascular diseases in Africa-AI4CARDIO project, African Center of Excellence in Mathematics, Computers and ICT (CEA MITIC), Digital Science and Technology Network (DSTN), Senegal
- Eng. Mr Boladele Matthew AKANLE, Federated Genomics-FEDGEN Project, Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence, (CApIC ACE), Digital Science and Technology Network (DSTN), Nigeria
- Dr. Gaoussou CAMARA, National Medical Information System for Senegal-SIMENS Project, African Center of Excellence in Mathematics, Computers and ICT (CEA MITIC), Digital Science and Technology Network (DSTN), Senegal

17h10 - 17h25 / Plenary 12 Online
Piyusha MAJUMDAR, Assistant Professor, IIHMR University, Jaipur, India

Multipronged Review to determine Implementation challenges and evolving malaria Control strategies in Tribal Areas in India: From Global Strategies to Local Innovation
And in parallel
Oral 14 Room 2
Fatoumata KASSE, PhD student, Malaria Research and Training Center, Mali (TBC)
Trends of Artemether-Lumefantrine treatment failure during routine consultation in Dangassa community health center, a Malian village with long seasonal malaria transmission

17h25 - 17h40 / Oral 12 Room 1
Aminu YUSUF, PhD student, ACENTDFB, Ahmadu Bello University

DNA Vaccine encoding Trypanosoma brucei Major Surface Protease-B induced IgG response and confers Partial Protection in Immunized BALB/c mice
And in parallel
Oral 15 Room 2
Rejoice EKLI, PhD student, ACEMFS, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria, WANIDA fellow Amoxicillin resistant Salmonella enterica isolates from ready-to-eat (RTE) meats and their environments in Accra, Ghana

17h40 - 17h55 / Oral 13 Room 1
Achaz-Achim Mawugnon AGOLINOU, PhD student, CEA/ITECH-MTV, IRSS, Université Nazi Boni, Burkina Faso
Design in silico of molecular model to study the SIFamide gene function in Anopheles gambiae olfactory system, in a perspective of genetic control of the vector
And in parallel
Oral 16 Room 2
Peter Yunenui MAHBOU, PhD student, ACENTDFB, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (WANIDA fellow) Seroprevalence of Dengue Virus and Co-infection with Malaria and Typhoid in Pyretic Patients in Some Hospitals in Cameroon

10th march 2023
AFRICAN RESEARCH NETWORKS OF EXCELLENCE:
ADDRESSING THE HEALTH CHALLENGES IN AFRICA
FIESTA ROYALE HOTEL - CEDAR Conference Room
George Walker Bush Highway, North Dzorwulu, Accra

9h - 13h15: Innovation to promote African research and valorization of research

Session Chair: Prof. Nicaise NDAM
9h - 9h40 Keynote speaker
Prof. Jean LANGHORNE, Principal Group Leader, The Francis Crick Institute, Director, Crick African Network

The Crick Africa Network: supporting the next generation of African science leaders

9h40 - 9h50 / Presentation PASTEUR Network by Prof. Yap BOUM II, Executive Director, Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Central African Republic
9.50am - 10am / Presentation of Global Africa by Prof. Mame Penda BA, Chief editor
10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. / Presentation CERMES, Niger by Dr. Ronan JAMBOU, Director Centre de Recherches Médicales et Sanitaires (CERMES), Niger
10:15 a.m. - 11 a.m. / Networking & Poster session in room KUSIA

Session Chair: Dr. Isah Abubakar ALIYU
11h - 11h15 / Oral 17 Room 1 Online
Moctar CHAIBOU, Researcher, Organic Synthesis And Natural Products Laboratory (LASNASO), Faculty of Science and Technology, Abdou Moumouni University, Niger

Anthelminthic evaluation and phytochemical exploration of chrozophora brocchiana (Euphorbiaceae), plant used as antiparasitic in Niger, based on molecular networking enhanced (MolNetEnhancer) guided dereplication

And in parallel
Oral 22 Room 2
Christine MOORE, PhD student, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana

Antileishmanial effects and mode of action of phenolic compounds and Glucantime combinations on Leishmania donovani

11h15 - 11h30 / Plenary 13
Prof. Amidou SAMIE, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, South Africa
Interleukin 10 (IL-10) Production, and Seroprevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection among HIV-infected patients in South Africa

And in parallel
Oral 23 Room 2
John SANDI, PhD student, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, (WANIDA fellow)
Evidence of robust antiviral response in the upper respiratory interface of SARS-CoV-2 infected Ghanaians

11:30 - 11:45 / Oral 18 Room 1
Dr. Firmin KRA, Socio-anthropologist, Robert Koch Institute, Unesco Chair in Bioethics/Université Alassane Ouattara, Ivory Coast
From preparedness to response: a socio-anthropological contribution from a study of funeral rites in Côte d'Ivoire
And in parallel
Oral 24 Room 2
Agossi Edwige KPODO, Master's student, CEA-ITECH-MTV, Université Nazi Boni, (WANIDA fellow)

Molecular epidemiology of dengue viruses around endemic foci in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, western Burkina-Faso

Session Chair: Prof. Iliya Shehu NDAMS
11h45 - 12h / Oral 19 Room 1
Dr. Aliyu EVUTI HARUNA, PhD student, Africa Center of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety (ACEMFS), Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
Sero-prevalance and assessment of knowledge attitude and practices of camel handlers regarding brucellosis and consumption of camel milk and urine in east senetorial district of yobe state, Nigeria

And in parallel
Oral 25 Room 2
Youssouf DIARRA, PhD student, Laboratory of Applied Molecular Biology, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali
Malaria Pre-elimination Stage: Use of the Universal Coverage with Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets, Active Case Detection and Free Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria with Artemisinin Combination Therapies.

12h15 - 12h30 / Oral 20 Room 1 Online
Léadisaelle Hosanna LENGUIYA, PhD student, Université Marien Ngouabi, Republic of Congo

SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets from COVID-19 positive households in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

And in parallel
Oral 27 Room 2
Youssouf MFOPIT MOULIOM, PhD student, ACENTDFB, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (WANIDA fellow)
Characterisation of bacteria with potential sialidase activity from midgut of tsetse flies

12:30 - 12:45 pm/ Oral 21 Room 1
Dr. Ibrahim KARIDIO DIORI, Head of the Platform of Immunology, and Haematology, Centre de Recherche Medical et Sanitaire (CERMES), ARISE Grantee, Niger
Prebiotics: valuable means for a proper prevention, management of malnutrition and communicable diseases in infants/ children

14h to15h20: Insights into Capacity building and resources sharing

Session Chair: Maissa MBAYE
14h00 - 14h20 / Plenary 14
David BAUER, The Francis Crick Institute

Platforms for "Real-Time" Virology & Immunity: Lessons from COVID-19 from West London, West Africa, and Beyond

14h20 - 14h40 / Plenary 15
Florence KOMURIAN - PRADEL, PhD, Head of GABRIEL international research Network, Fondation Mérieux

GABRIEL, an international scientific network serving capacity building in research & surveillance on infectious diseases

14h40 - 15h20 / Roundtable 3: Scientific Networks: Experience Gained and Lessons Learned
Moderator: Maissa Mbaye, Director, ACE MITIC, Gaston Berger University, Senegal
- Dr. Mariama DIALLO, Deputy Director, CEA-PCMT, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Guinea, WANIDA partner
- Dr. Florence KOMURIAN - PRADEL, Head of GABRIEL international research Network, Fondation Mérieux
- Prof. Jean LANGHORNE, Principal Group Leader, The Francis Crick Institute; Director, Crick African Network (CAN)
- Prof. Yap Boum II, Executive Director, Institut Pasteur de Bangui, PASTEUR Network.

Closing ceremony
15h20 - 15h50 / Award ceremony for " My 3 minutes Thesis " Challenge & Poster & Oral presentations
3.50pm - 4pm / Closing remarks: Prof. Gordon AWANDARE FGA, ProVC ASA UG, Director WACCBIP

This event will be translated into French and English.
This event will be broadcast by Zoom. To receive the connection link, please register via the following link: https: //my.weezevent.com/wanidasymposium2