Michael B. Adinortey, PhD, has held a faculty rank as a Professor of Biochemistry since February 2022 in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Prior to this, he served in various academic ranks including Principal Research Assistant, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Associate Professor between October 2006 and January 2022. Michael’s student-centred teaching philosophy emphasises inclusivity, practical skills, and preparing graduates for both academia and industry. He integrate innovative pedagogies and technology to enhance learning outcomes. He brings an open mind, a positive attitude, and a pleasant outlook to the lecture hall. He supports his students in expressing and accepting themselves, as well as embracing the differences of others. He holds the belief that every class comprises a distinct group of individuals, and accordingly, he delivers course content that is relevant to students' lives and caters to different teaching and learning styles. Michael, who holds a Certificate in University Teaching from the University of Hong Kong, integrates technology, hands-on learning, cooperative learning, tasks, and individual work to engage and stimulate student learning. He believes he owes a duty to both his students and society to uphold diligence, respect, hard work, and warmth in his profession with the hope of inspiring and instilling these same values in his students.
In terms of research, Michael is particularly fascinated by protein receptors that serve as drug targets in diseases. He aims to translate his understanding of basic cell biology and the molecular mechanisms of diseases into novel therapeutic approaches. He employs a variety of tools biochemical, microbial, molecular, pharmacological, animal models, and computational chemistry to investigate and understand pathophysiological conditions and receptor–ligand interactions, thereby identifying drug targets and discovering new therapeutic agents. A major milestone in his research was the development of a novel technique for culturing Helicobacter pylori, published in the Journal of Tropical Medicine in 2018. This led to the first successful isolation of Helicobacter pylori in Ghana, paving the way for studies on the bacterium’s drug resistance profile. These studies could contribute significantly to healthcare services for peptic ulcer patients.
Michael is a member of several prestigious professional bodies, including the West African Network of Natural Products Research Scientists (WANNPRES), the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and the Ghana Science Association (Cape Coast branch), where he served as President for two terms (2019–2023). During his presidency and as a member of the Ghana Science Council, he submitted a proposal titled "Training Workshops for Science and Mathematics Teachers in Ghana", which was approved and adopted for national implementation. He also initiated a unique radio programme, Science, Society and Development (SSD), to engage and educate communities in Cape Coast and its environs on science and related issues. Additionally, Michael served as the lead collaborator for Ghana in a global National Institutes of Health project on the Helicobacter pylori genome, resulting in successful genome sequencing. The findings have been published in prestigious journals such as Nature Communications, Gut Microbes, and The Lancet Microbe.
Michael continues to engage in outreach and academic leadership, serving as a peer reviewer for numerous international journals hosted by Elsevier, Hindawi, Bentham Science, Informa Publishing, Springer Science, the Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, and the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. He has supervised several postgraduate students, including three PhD candidates, and continues to supervise students both in Ghana and internationally. He also serves as an External Assessor of Theses for universities within and outside Ghana. He has been involved in academic programme reviews for the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), for institutions including Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana, and CK Tedam University. He has served as a member and chair of numerous committees related to strategic planning, policy formulation, and project management. Professor Adinortey has also served on several statutory and ad hoc committees at the departmental, school/faculty, and university levels, including the Appointments and Promotions Committees of the School of Biological Sciences, the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, and the College of Health and Allied Sciences. He was also a member of the Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation Advisory Board, the School of Graduate Studies Board, and the Academic Planning and Management Committee. Currently, he serves on the Academic Board of the University, one of the highest decision-making bodies.
Michael has also served as a Departmental Registration and Examination Officer, and as Head of the Department of Biochemistry during the periods 2016–2018 and 2020–2023. Among his notable achievements as Head of Department are:
- Lobbying for and securing a new laboratory, labeled as the Teaching Laboratory.
- Reorganising the department’s practical schedule for Levels 200 and 300 into an industry-driven, skill and technique-based manual.
- Leading the department to develop a new logo and a five-year strategic plan, drawing from his experience as a member of the University of Cape Coast 2012 Strategic Plan Committee.
- Increase in student enrolment in the BSc Biochemistry programme and successful re-accreditation of the programme.
· Secured international collaborations with researchers from the USA, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, India, and South Africa.
- Championing the development and accreditation of six new postgraduate programmes namely MSc, MPhil, and PhD in Biochemistry, and MSc, MPhil, and PhD in Food Science which had been in the pipeline for over a decade.
- Initiating the development of two liberal courses: (a) The Science of Indigenous Food Processing and Technology (b) The Science of Natural Health Products
During his tenure as Head of Department, Michael was also elected and appointed Vice-Dean of the School of Biological Sciences (2021–2023). As Vice-Dean, he chaired the strategic planning committee responsible for developing the School’s Strategic Plan.
Michael has received scholarships and grants supporting both his education and research. He was a recipient of a DRIC, University of Cape Coast, grant, a Ghana Government Scholarship for brilliant students in 1992 and a University of Cape Coast scholarship for his PhD studies. He also participated in a leadership training for university leaders organised by the Association of African Universities in 2014. In addition, he benefited from a TWAS–UNESCO Fellowship for Research and Advanced Training to support the training of a PhD student from Cameroon. Professor Michael Buenor Adinortey’s multidisciplinary research and academic leadership significantly contribute to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) namely SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4 - Quality Education; SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.
