Eric Sampane-donkor BSc , MSc, MPhil, PhD, MBA

Eric Sampane-Donkor is a Professor of Bacteriology and Global Health in the Department of Medical Microbiology, at the University of Ghana Medical School. He was appointed head of the Department in August 2019. He holds a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Iceland, Reykjavik. He undertook postdoctoral studies in Microbial Genomics at the University of Cambridge, UK. To be more efficient in his administrative roles, Prof. Sampane-Donkor recently completed an MBA Management degree awarded by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, during which he undertook a project in the marketing and branding of academic institutions. His other academic qualifications include an MSc in Structural Molecular Biology from Birkbeck College, University of London, UK, an MPhil in Animal Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Ghana, Legon, a Postgraduate Diploma in Infectious and Tropical Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and a BSc (Hons) degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ghana, Legon.

With a broad academic background, Prof. Sampane-Donkor applies concepts from several fields to help address the global infectious disease challenge through research. His current research interests focus on understanding the dynamics of infectious pathogens in at-risk populations, such as patients with stroke, sickle cell disease, and diabetes. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles in international journals, including 64 first and corresponding author articles. Many of Prof. Sampane-Donkor's publications appear in reputable journals, such as MBio, BMC Genomics, Lancet Infectious Diseases, Lancet EClinical Medicine, Frontiers in Infection and Cellular Microbiology, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, and Genes. He is a high-level expert on pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae), a highly virulent microbial pathogen that causes severe invasive and non-invasive diseases, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia. His work on this pathogen contributed to the introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Ghana in 2012, and also earned him the African Prize of the Robert Austrian Award in Pneumococcal Vaccinology from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, USA. He has also researched extensively on the evolution of antibiotic resistance in Ghana, providing timely data for empirical treatment of bacterial infections in the country. For instance, a paper he published on antibiotic resistance of uropathogens in 2016 was the basis for changing ciprofloxacin to amikacin as prophylaxis among bladder outlet obstruction patients at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Working in the area of global health, Prof. Sampane-Donkor has been involved in extensive research collaborations across the globe, working with institutions such as the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK, Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia, Sackler School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University in Israel, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, USA, and the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Taif University in Saudi Arabia.

Prof. Sampane-Donkor provides consultancy services to several local and international institutions, such as the National Accreditation Board of Ghana, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the World Health Organization. In a recent assignment, he undertook and led a nationwide study for the Ghanaian Ministry of Health toward public-private partnership in diagnostics as part of the African Health Diagnostics Platform. This study formed the basis for a 40 million Euro loan from the European Investment Bank to the Ghanaian Government to improve diagnostics in the country. Overall, Prof. Sampane-Donkor has undertaken 16 funded research projects, supported by several institutions, such as the Pneumococcal Vaccines Accelerated Development and Introduction Plan of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, World Health Organization, Wyeth Vaccines, and Eimksip Fund. Currently, he is the site (Ghana) Principal Investigator of a 3.1 million GBP Fleming Fund regional grant project aimed at addressing the problem of antimicrobial resistance in developing countries through surveillance. He serves as an Academic Editor for several journals, including Frontiers in Tropical Medicine (USA), Pathogens Journal (Switzerland), and the Journal of Ghana Science Association. He also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for many local and international journals. Prof Sampane-Donkor had been a visiting faculty/scientist to several international institutions, such as the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, the University of Sussex in the UK, and the University of Minnesota in the United States. He is a Visiting Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Sackler School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Israel, and a Life Fellow of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, UK. He is part of several international initiatives, including the Global Pneumococcal Sequencing Consortium, Fleming Fund Convening of Antimicrobial Resistance Experts, Partnerships for International Medical Education, and the Global Bacterial Vaccinology Network (BactiVac).