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Prof. Desmond Omane Acheampong
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Prof. Desmond Omane Acheampong

Professor - ( Senior Member ) Department of Biomedical Sciences

Dean

School of Allied Health Sciences
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Field(s) of Specialization
Clinical Microbiology and Immunology
Field(s) of Academic Interest
Biomedical Entrepreneurship and Youth Enterprise Development
Clinical Microbiology
Drug Discovery Studies (Natural Products) for Communicable/Noncommunicable Diseases Management
Immunology/Immunotherapy
About

Desmond Omane Acheampong is a Professor of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana, and the Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences, UCC. Desmond is a Fulbright Fellow, and had his Fulbright Fellowship at Center for Global Health/Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, US. Desmond was an Adjunct Professor, School of Food Science and Engineering, Guangzhou Wushan Campus of SCUT, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China. 

Prof. Acheampong has had the opportunity to serve as acting Dean, and Vice-Dean prior to becoming the Dean. Also, he has previously served as Head of Department, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, UCC. 

Desmond holds BSc (Biological Sciences) from University of Cape Coast, Ghana; MSc (Clinical Microbiology) from  Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana; and PhD (Microbiological and Biochemical Pharmacy) from China Pharmaceutical University, China. 

Desmond has successfully mentored/supervised a number of PhD and MPhil candidates in the areas of clinical microbiology, immunology and drug discovery. Most of his Mentees are currently working as Lecturers and Research Fellows at reputable Universities and Medical Research Centres. He has to his credit a patent for an immunotherapeutic agent he developed for cancer therapy. Also, he has authored two books in microbiology and immunology, a manual and policy brief on innovation and entrepreneurship. His research interest has mainly been on Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Immunology (Cancer Immunology/Immunotherapy),  Drug discovery studies (Natural Products) targeted at Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of dementia and, Biomedical Entrepreneurship and Youth Enterprise development.

Prof. Acheampong has the following as his key research collaborators currently: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, UK; Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, US; COPAN ITALIA, Brescia, Italy;  Boston University, US; and School of Food Science and Engineering, Guangzhou Wushan Campus of SCUT, Tianhe District, Guangzhou. 

Desmond has secured a number of research grants/supports for his research activities and graduate students training. He was the Lead-Partner for three projects under British Council sponsored Innovation for African University programme. He is currently the Co-PI on the projects: Evaluation of Lollisponge as a self-sampling kit for non-invasive diagnosis of malaria and HIV, with funding from COPAN, ITALIA Group, Brescia, Italy; and Application of bioactive peptide supplementation for attenuating malnutrition in cancer patients, with funding from Guangdong Province International Science and Technology Cooperation Project (2022A0505050012), the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation Project (2023B1515040029), and the “Belt and Road” Foreign Experts Innovative and Talent Exchange Project (DL2022163004L), China.   

As an academic, Desmond has served and continue to serve as External Examiner for PhD and MPhil theses from sister universities, and Assessor for promotion of academic senior members home and abroad. Additionally, he reviews grant proposals submitted to reputable institutions such as Medical Research Council (MRC), UK. and Medical Research Foundation (MRF), UK. Also, he is a member of a number of Scientific Advisory Committees for completed/running grants, including National Institute of Health (NIH) grants, US. Desmond serves as an Editorial Board Member/Associate Editor for a number of reputable journals.       

Prof. Acheampong has served or continues to serve as chairman or member on a number of boards and committees at local (UCC), national and international levels. Notable among these committees/Boards are member, Governing Council, Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Science and Technology, Lashibi, Accra, Ghana; Chairman, Board of Governors, Dynamic Works Foundation (CSO), Accra, Ghana ;  member, Official Blog of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) ‘‘The Sentinel”; member, Academic Board, UCC; member, Graduate Studies Board, UCC; member, Academic Planning and Management Committee, UCC; Member, Planning and Resource Committee, UCC; member, College of Health and Allied Sciences Board; UCC; member, Appointment and Promotion Committee, College of Health and Allied Sciences, UCC; Chairman, School of Allied Health Sciences Board, UCC; Chairman, Appointments and Promotions Committee, School of Allied Health Sciences, UCC; Chairman, Graduate Studies Committee, School of Allied Health Sciences, UCC; member, the ad-hoc committee that developed the university’s research agenda for 2023-2027, UCC; member, Academic Board's committee that reviews curricular of academic programmes due for accreditation or reaccreditation by Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC), among others.

Desmond is a member of the following Professional institutions/bodies/scientific groups; Fulbright Fellows Alumni Association, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), The Antibody Society (AS), International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), Immunological Society of Ghana, WAHO-Infectious Research Group, Malaria GEN-Genomic Epidemiology Network and University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).


Degrees
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiological and Biochemical Pharmacy

    China Pharmaceutical University 2015
  • Master of Science in Clinical Microbiology

    Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology 2008
  • Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences

    University of Cape Coast 2002
  • Facilitator

    September, 2024

    Contemporary Issues in Fisheries Management. Fisheries Leadership Short course for Practitioners funded by USAID/Fisheries Recovery Activity Ghana.

  • Presenter

    October, 2024

    International and Regional Fisheries Institutional Frameworks and Bodies. Workshop on Destabilising Impacts of Distant Water Fishing Vessels (DWFV) in the Gulf of Guinea Yaounde, Cameroon.

  • Guest Speaker

    October, 2024

    “Promoting Research Excellence for Impact on Marine Conservation in Africa”, Institute for Oceans and Fisheries Online Seminar Series University of British Columbia, Canada.

  • Co-Facilitator

    October, 2021

    “Grants Proposal Writing Workshop” University for Development Studies.

  • Presenter

    November, 2024

    “Performance of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience”, Country Round Table Workshop Association of African Universities (AAU), Online.

  • Facilitator

    November, 2024

    “Regional Political Parties Dialogue on Fisheries: Protecting Our Fish, Securing Our Future, Live Engagement on JoyNews TV Centre for National Culture, Cape Coast.

  • Presenter

    November, 2023

    Professorial Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Our Oceans: Securing Our Common Future through Transformative Research” Medical School Auditorium, University of Cape Coast.

  • Presenter

    March, 2024

    Africa’s Plastic Revolution: Advancing Global Solutions for Healthy Oceans, T.D. Walter Bean Professorship Public Lecture University of Waterloo, Canada.

  • Presenter

    June, 2024

    Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy. National Consultative Workshop for the Formulation of a National Blue Economy Strategy for Angola Luanda, Angola.

  • Panelist

    June, 2024

    Regional Steering Committee Workshop for the World Bank West African Coastal Resilience Investment Projects (WACA ReSiP and ReiP2) Banjul, Gambia.

  • Facilitator

    July-August, 2012

    Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change. Short-term Training Course funded by USAID Ghana.

  • Co-Discussant

    July, 2023

    “Expanding the Impact of Blue Economy in Africa” (with Professor Rashid Sumaila) World Bank Headquarters, Washington.

  • Facilitator

    February, 2022

    Workshop on “Winning Research and Development Grants in a Competitive World” Bolgatanga Technical University, Ghana.

  • Facilitator

    February, 2019

    Workshop on “Proposal and Grants writing” University of Ghana, Ghana.

  • Speaker

    August, 2024

    Study Tour on Sustainable Fisheries Management & Leadership University of Rhode Island, United States.

  • Presenter

    August, 2023

    Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Ghana Case Study. Bootcamp on moving fisheries from Vulnerability to Viability Puri, Delhi, India.

  • Guest Speaker

    April, 2024

    Workshop Presentation on “Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy in Africa Hohai University, China.

  • Participant

    2021

    6th ACE Impact Regional Workshop of the World Bank and the Association of African Universities Accra (Online).

  • Panelist

    2014

    Seaweed (Sargassum) Invasion on the Ghanaian Coasts, Implications for the National Economy and Management Live TV Broadcast, GTV.

  • Guest Speaker

    2010

    “West African Fisheries”, Workshop by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) University of Makerere, Kampala, Uganda.

  1. 2024-2025

    Team member, Contract for services to deliver a short course on Marine Litter under the OCPP

    Cefas/UKAID

  2. 2024

    Panel Chair, Reviewed Environmental Impact Statement of PECAN Energies for Offshore Exploration of Oil & Gas

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana, Secondi/Takoradi

  3. 2023-2024

    Team member, Contract for development of a short course on Marine Litter for the West Africa Region

    Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID

  4. 2023-2024

    Team member, Contract services to conduct data collection surveys on abandoned lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Ghana

    Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID

  5. 2023

    Lead Consultant, Contract for the Development of Fishery Courses Syllabi for Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (DoFAS), University of Liberia

    IDA-V3100

  6. 2023

    Panel Chair, Evaluation of Applications for recruitment of Environmental, Social Safeguards Officers for Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI)

    World Bank funded West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme

  7. 2022-2023

    Lead Consultant, Consultancy to review and align national fisheries and aquaculture polices and laws with the PFRS, regional instruments and global best practices for 15 AU Member States

    African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

  8. 2022-2023

    Lead Consultant, Mechanisms to Facilitate the Domestication of Global Instruments and Initiatives (2022)

    African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

  9. 2022-2023

    Lead Consultant, Identification of Issues for SIDS, Development of Draft Strategic Positions for SIDS

    African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

  10. 2022

    Team member, Environmental Systems Analysis of the Avu Lagoon Protected area

    Calgary Zoo Foundation

  11. 2021

    Trainer, Conduct Marine Spatial Planning Workshop in Ghana

    University of Liverpool

  12. 2021

    Team member, Pre-feasibility study for nature-based intervention for Anlo Beach community in Ghana

    Valued at US$32,365.00

  13. 2021

    Team member, Marine Plastic Pollution Study in Liberia

    Conservation International

  14. 2021

    Team member, Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate - WACA -VAR Workshop

    World Bank

  15. 2020-2021

    Consultant, Support Development of Multi-sector Resilience Investment Programme for the West Africa Coastal Area Management Program

    World Bank

  16. 2020-2021

    Consultant, Issues and Opportunities in the Ghanaian Fishery Sector: Addressing the context, prospects and challenges

    Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), United Kingdom

  17. 2020

    Consultant, Estimations on renewable energy investments in Ghana

    Highland Star Group (HSG) of Companies, Geneva, Switzerland

  18. 2019-2020

    Team Member, Regional Mapping of Experts and Institutions in Coastal management

    World Bank

  19. 2017

    Lead Consultant, Review of the Fisheries Act 2002 (act 625) and the Development of Draft Regulations for the conduct of Fisheries Impact Assessments

    Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) and GOGIG funded by DFID/UK

  20. 2013

    Team member, Environmental baseline survey of water bodies in the Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited (GCDGL) mining concession

    AERC Ltd.

  21. 2012

    Team member, Scoping Study on the Dredging of the Whin Estuary in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

    UCC Consultancy Unit/Consolidated Energy Ltd.

  22. 2011

    Team member, Social Ecology of Anlo Beach Wetland of Ghana

    Friends of the Nation/IUCN/French Global Environment Facility (GEF)

  23. 2010

    Principal Investigator, Biodiversity Assessment of Urban Wetlands in the Western Region, Ghana with focus on Essei and Butuah Lagoons and the Whin River Estuary

    USAID through Friends of the Nation

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