KNUST, DNDi set up Ghana's first lab to test 100 molecules against schistosomiasis
KNUST and DNDi have launched a German-funded laboratory partnership in Kumasi to screen about 100 drug compounds against juvenile and adult bilharzia worms.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) have established Ghana's inaugural laboratory to screen 100 molecules for potential treatment against schistosomiasis. This collaboration, funded by Germany's Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, marks DNDi's first African partnership and establishes KNUST as the nation's first laboratory equipped to test compounds against the parasitic worm.
Professor Alexander Yaw Debrah, KNUST's Professor of Parasitology and Global Health and Scientific Director of the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine, expressed optimism that this initiative would empower Ghanaian researchers to discover a cure for schistosomiasis within their own laboratories. Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a parasitic disease prevalent in Africa, caused by infection with blood flukes.
It can lead to severe health issues, such as damage to the urinary and reproductive tracts, and remains a significant public health concern in Ghana. The new laboratory will evaluate approximately 100 drug prototypes and chemical compounds already known to target *Schistosoma haematobium* worms, which primarily inhabit Africa. The partnership aligns with KNUST's commitment to research that contributes to national development and will be joined by researchers from the UK, Switzerland, Japan, and Brazil.
Together, they aim to enhance screening assays and refine laboratory testing protocols. KNUST will also send two researchers to Germany to gain hands-on experience in laboratory screening methods. Schistosomiasis, caused by freshwater snails releasing larvae, affects millions globally, with Africa accounting for the majority of cases.
Treatment, primarily with praziquantel, is crucial for managing the disease, but repeated administration is often necessary. The KNUST-DNDi collaboration is expected to bolster Ghana's capacity to develop new, effective treatments for neglected diseases, particularly schistosomiasis.
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