Page 10 - Inspiring UG

ADVANCING PREDICTIVE

MEDICINE IN SICKLE CELL

DISEASE (SCD)

Prof. Solomon Ofori-Acquah

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), an inherited Professor Ofori-Acquah;
condition affecting the red blood cells, is an · a study of the genomics of severe
af liction for millions of people around the malaria complications in SCD led by
world; those who inherit one sickle cell gene Professor Julie Makani of Muhimbili
and one normal gene are said to carry the University of Health and Allied
sickle cell trait (SCT), and typically do not Sciences, Tanzania and Professor
exhibit symptoms of SCD. With about 75% of Gordon Awandare, Director of
the global SCD burden in sub-Saharan Africa University of Ghana's West African
(SSA), the situation is particularly acute Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious
precisely where malaria is also endemic. The Pathogens (WACCBIP); and
relevance of the co-location of the two · an examination of the genomics of
diseases is that the incidence of malaria in cardiovascular phenotypes in SCD led
SCD can be fatal. Conversely, SCT carriers by Professor Mahmoud Sani of Bayero
have a survival advantage in malaria endemic University, Nigeria.
areas.

Leading advances in SCD genetic medicine
research at the University of Ghana is
Professor Solomon Ofori-Acquah, Dean of
the School of Biomedical and Allied Health
Sciences (who also holds a joint appointment
in Medicine and Human Genetics at the
University of Pittsburgh). He directs the
Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of
Africa (SickleGenAfrica), a multi-country
research programme that seeks to align the
survival of individuals with SCD in Africa with
national norms. Professor Ofori-Acquah and
his collaborators across the continent are
interrogating the entire human genome to
identify differences in our genes that afford
some patients an enhanced capacity to ight
the by-products of sickle cell destruction in
order to prevent potential damage to major
organs.

The project comprises three interrelated
research programmes including:
· a primary genomics research project
that is a genome-wide association
study of hemolysis-modifying factors
and their role and mechanism in acute
organ damage in SCD patients, led by

8 Inspiring