CRID is pleased to announce the results of the Hamish Ogstom Foundation Early Career Grants applications. 7 proposals from 75 applications were selected. Each successful candidate will be awarded up to £5,000 to deliver a project to be completed by 28th February 2024. The funds will allow the design and implementation of specific health related interventions to improve public health. Each recipient will address a specific public health issue in his/her field of expertise.
Sado Yousseu Francine Berlange, PhD student at CRID, she will be working on the topic entitled: “Detection and molecular characterization of tick-borne pathogens from cattle, sheep, and goats in the West region of Cameroon”. Little is known about ticks and tick-borne diseases in Cameroon. Preliminary studies revealed the presence of high tick diversity, viruses, parasites, and bacteria that are responsible of enormous losses not only in animals but also in the human population. The most notorious tick-borne virus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, which has a case fatality rate of 40% in humans was found circulating in livestock, humans, and ticks in the country. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of infestation of the herd, the infesting tick species, and the main tick-borne pathogens involved in livestock diseases in the West region.
Nguiffo Nguete Daniel, researcher at CRID, will work on the topic entitled: “Assessing antimalarial drug resistance in neglected non Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites species in Cameroon”. Malaria remains a major public health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Resistance to antimalarial drugs is a global threat to malaria control and elimination. The world Health Organization recommend that drug resistance should be monitored in all malaria parasite species to prevent the loss of efficacy of current ACTs drugs. The present project aims to monitor antimalarial drug resistance in two non P. falciparum parasite species, P. malariae and P.ovale, that are neglected, but are becoming widespread in Cameroon.
Nono Vanessa Ninkeh, works on the thematic “Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of isoniazid-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates in Cameroon”. This topic aims to characterize mutations associated with isoniazid-resistant (INH-R) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) clinical isolates in Cameroon, determine mechanisms of resistance in INH-R MTB isolates that lack INH resistance-associated mutations, and investigate the genetic diversity and transmission dynamic of INH-R MTB isolates. CRID will perform the bioinformatic analysis aspect of the generated DNA sequences after whole-genome sequencing of INH-R strains of Mycobacteruim tuberculosis clinical isolates has been performed.
Tedjou Nouboudem Armel, Researcher at CRID, will be working on the topic: “Assessing the potential emergence of Anopheles stephensi Liston, 1901 in Cameroon: a pilot study of ecological and geographical evolution patterns.” This project aims to determine whether Anopheles stephensi has succeeded in establishing itself in Cameroon through its ongoing invasion process observed in East Africa. Specifically to determine the potential preferences of larval breeding sites of An. stephensi, morphologically and molecularly characterize An. stephensi, study the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness of An. stephensi and quantify the geographical landscape of the mosquito vector.
Bughe Rhoda Nsen, a lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaounde 1. She will be working on the topic entitled: “Evaluation of the efficacy of probiotics in the bio-control of multidrug-resistant bacteria: Isolation, molecular characterization and antibacterial properties of Lactobacillus strains isolated in Cameroon”. The objective of this study is to identify lactobacilli from yoghurt, intestine of fish and chickens, and to characterise probiotic potential of the Lactobacilli and Bacillus species, and their antibacterial activity against multidrug resistance Salmonella, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila.
Pierre Fongho Suh, researcher at CRID, will work on the topic entitled: “The importance of Urinary schistosomiasis among nomadic communities of northern Cameroon”. Northern Cameroon is among the most affected region by schistosomiasis, but the current epidemiological data of this disease are limited to sedentary populations alone. The objectives of this study are to assess the occurrence of this neglected tropical disease in nomadic pastoralist communities of the Far North Region and determine risk factors associated to it.
Mewamba Mezajou Estelle, PhD student in biochemistry at the University of Dschang attends to work on the “Detection of Schistosoma haematobium cell-free DNA in urine samples stored on filter papers: epidemiological importance for the control of urinary schistosomiasis”. In area under decades of Mass drug administration of Praziquantel, the urinary filtration test currently used to diagnose urinary schistosomiasis lacks sensitivity especially in detecting individuals with light infection intensities. As the process of elimination is approaching, it become essential to think about the validation of disease elimination, the monitoring and evaluation of control programs, and also the post elimination surveillance by developing sensitive, specific and reliable diagnostic tools like those detecting cell-free DNA of Schistosoma haematobium in urine samples stored on filters papers.
These Grants are offered in partnership with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in the UK, the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), Yaoundé, Cameroon and funded by the Hamish Ogston Foundation (HOF) in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee through a donation allocated to the LSTM. In this process CRID plays the role of managing the funds provided by the LSTM. That is, CRID ensures the provision of the funds to the awardees, monitors the implementation of each project and reports to LSTM.
The Hamish Ogston Foundation created in 2019 is dedicated to three areas of focus: Heritage, Music and Health. In these areas, the prime goals are to preserve historic buildings throughout the world, to support and build the UK’s Choral Music Tradition, the country’s oldest living cultural heritage, and to work towards reducing the disparities in both access to medical treatment and health awareness around the world.
