Every day, we take part in diverse activities ranging from cognition, movement to emotion. These activities are controlled by the brain. Nerve cells of the brain learn and form memories of our experiences with the physical and social environments through the process of synaptic plasticity. This mechanism takes place at synapses between neurons of the brain. These synapses serve the purpose of transmission of information as well as regulation of the flow of information between neurons. Neurodegenerative diseases affect synaptic transmission. Therefore, our ability to engage in seemingly simple as well as complex activities become challenging.

Daniel’s research interest is in synaptic plasticity with a focus on gaining an in-depth understanding of the structural and functional changes synapses undergo in pathophysiological states. Various cytoplasmic and membrane proteins play very crucial roles in both the induction and spread of neurological diseases. Ongoing projects include the regulatory role of synaptic proteins in chronic medial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), cognition among drug naïve TLE patients as well as cognitive deficit in cerebrospinal meningitis. Also, he is currently working on HIV/AIDS-associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) in Cape Coast (Cape Coast HAND Study). He has published in peer-reviewed journals in his field and has presented his work at both local and international conferences. He has served as Acting Head of Department of Physiology and currently serves as the Registration and Examinations Officer (Cycle I ) of the School of Medical Sciences, UCC. He is also serving on a number of Committees within the Department, School, College and the University. These include being a member of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, UCC (UTAG-UCC) Experts' Forum and Research Committee as well as being a UTAG Representative for Board of Convocation Committee (Scrutineers Committee).

Additionally, Daniel is a member of many prestigious professional bodies such as the Norwegian Neuroscience Society, Canadian Association for Neuroscience, Federation of European Neuroscience Society and Ghana Neuroscience Society. He was a Norwegian Quota Scholar and a product of the University of Ghana (BSc.), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (MSc.), University of Education, Winneba (PGDip) and University of Oslo, Norway (PhD).

He is a youth advocate and earnestly believes in the immense potential of the youth.

PUBLICATIONS:

Ringsevjen, H.,  Egbenya, D.L., Bieler, M.,  Davanger, S. and Hussain, S. (2023). Activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein (Arc) in presynaptic terminals and extracellular vesicles in hippocampal synapses. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 16, 1225533.

Ekman, J., Quartey, P., Ussif, A.M., Ricklund, N., Egbenya, D.L., Wiafe, G.A., Tsegah, K.M., Karikari, A., Löfstedt, H. and Djankpa, F.T. (2023). Dynamics of pre-shift and post-shift lung function parameters among wood workers in Ghana. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 35.

Ussif, A. M., Egbenya, D. L., Kusi, J. D., Nyarko, E., Quartey, P., Ulanja, M. B., Boateng, I., Affram, K. O., Tsegah, K. M. and Djankpa, F. T. (2023). Assessing knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 among traders and sanitary workers in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. Journal of Global Health Reports, 7, e2023029.

Egbenya, D. L., Hussain, S., Lai, Y.C., Anderson, A. E. and Davanger, S.  (2023). Synapse-specific changes in Arc and BDNF in rat hippocampus following chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. Neuroscience Research, 191, 1-12.

Egbenya, D. L. and Quayson, E. K. (2022). Attitude of junior high school students towards the study of science in Ghanaian schools: The case of first-year students in the Cape Coast metropolis. International Journal of Science Education, 44(16): 2442 – 2464. DOI: 10.1080/09500693.2022.2126954.

Biney, R. P., Djankpa, F. T., Osei, S. A., Egbenya, D. L., Aboagye, B., Karikari, A. A., Ussif, A., Wiafe, G. A., Nuertey, D. (2022). Effects of in utero exposure to monosodium glutamate on locomotion, anxiety, depression, memory and KCC2 expression in offspring. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience; 82(1): 50-62. DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10158.

Egbenya, D. L., Aidoo, E. and Kyei, G. (2021). Glutamate receptors in brain development. Child’s Nervous System, 1 - 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-021-05266-w.

Egbenya, D. L. (2021). Improving international health security in resource-scarce regions: Leveraging upon the initial success of combating COVID-19 to fight emerging health threats. In: Stawicki, S. P. , Papadimos, T. J., Galwankar, S. C., Miller, A. C. and Firstenberg, M. S. (ed.). Contemporary developments and perspectives in international health security - Volume 2. InTechOpen Publishers.

Egbenya, D. L. and Adjorlolo, S. (2021). Advancement of neuroscience and the assessment of mental state at the time of offense. Forensic Science International: Mind and Law, 2, 100046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiml.2021.100046.

Adjorlolo, S. and Egbenya, D. L. (2020). A twin disaster: Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and a cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak simultaneously in a low-resource country. Global Health Action, 13(1): 1 - 6. DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1795963.

Egbenya, D. L., Hussain, S., Lai, Y. C., Xia, J., Anderson, A. E. and Davanger, S. (2018). Changes in synaptic AMPA receptor concentration and composition in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 92, 93 – 103.

Hussain, S., Egbenya, D. L., Lai, Y.C., Dosa, Z. J., Sørensen, J. B., Anderson, A. E. and Davanger, S. (2017). The calcium sensor synaptotagmin 1 is expressed and regulated in hippocampal postsynaptic spines. Hippocampus, 27(11): 1168 – 1177.

Lorgen, J. O., Egbenya, D. L., Hammer, J. and Davanger, S. (2017). PICK1 facilitates lasting reduction in GluA2 concentration in the hippocampus during chronic epilepsy. Epilepsy Research, 137, 25 – 32.

Hussain, S., Ringsevien, H., Egbenya, D. L., Skjervold, T. L. and Davanger, S. (2016). SNARE protein synxtaxin-1 colocalises closely with NMDA receptor subunit NR2B in postsynaptic spines in the hippocampus. Frontiers in molecular medicine, 9(10): 1 – 13.

Adjorlolo, S. and Egbenya, D. L. (2016). Executive functioning profiles of adult and juvenile male sexual offenders: A systematic review. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology. DOI.: 10.1080/14789949.2016.1141431.