Kintampo Health Research Centre [KHRC]
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Director of KHRC   Name: Dr Seth Owusu-Agyei

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KEY QUALIFICATION(S): MSC, PhD

Background:

He is an epidemiologist with extensive field experience in intervention trials. He joined the Kintampo Health Research Centre as the Director in July, 2002. He had before then worked in the Navrongo Health Research Centre from 1989 to 2002, in several positions, starting as the Assistant Head of Fieldwork on a large vitamin A supplementation trial of young children; rising to be the head of the biomedical group 2000. He was part of the team that set up the Navrongo Demographic Surveillance System and the malaria unit/agenda for the Navrongo Health Research Centre and currently a consultant to the Malaria group working on the NIH funded malaria studies. His research career started in the epidemiology unit of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in 1987.

Teaching

He is an examiner/marker on the distance learning infectious diseases epidemiology course of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) . He supervises project works of students of the School of Public Health, University of Ghana; as well as teaches on the epidemiology course of the Medical Assistants and Technical Officers at the Rural Health Training School in Kintampo. He enjoys teaching in the little spare time that he is able to create.

Research

His main current interests are in:

  • Malaria interventions studies and clinical trials involving new antimalarial drugs and malaria vaccine candidates. Other interests in infectious diseases include emerging ones such as buruli ulcer and meningitis.
  • Micronutrient intervention initiatives that targets improvement of children's nutrition. Of special mention are vitamin A supplementation of young children and mothers;
  • Community-based Interventions that will enhance child health with the community and health providers as targets with the view of reducing early child deaths, as well as adult deaths.

Current Research Areas:

Infectious diseases, Micronutrient interventions, Health Interventions and outcomes.

Research and Collaborations:

  • Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Impact of Vitamin A Supplementation on Maternal Mortality in Ghana. This trial is in collaboration with the Nutrition & Public Health Intervention Research Unit of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and funded by DFID, UK.
  • Patterns and characteristics of P. falciparum malaria infections, and morbidity in the Kintampo district. This trial is in collaboration with the Gates Malaria Partnership, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine with funding from Gates Malaria Partnership.
  • A non-inferiority, open-labeled, randomised trial of the efficacy and safety of three regimens of ACTs treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum in children in Ghana. This trial is in collaboration with the Gates Malaria Partnership, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine with funding from Gates Malaria Partnership.
  • A randomised double-blind controlled study for comparing the immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety of GSKNMACW135 polysaccharide with NMACYW135. This project is in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine with funding from WHO.
  • Prevention of Vit A deficiency by supplementation alongside routine vaccination - a randomised controlled trial in Ghana. ISRCTN97670178. This trial is in collaboration with the LSHTM with funding from WHO.
  • Assessment of serological responses to Hep B and Hib vaccines in infants receiving vitamin A in Ghana. ISRCTN28820504. This trial is in collaboration with the LSHTM with funding from WHO.
  • Studies on nutritional anaemia control through use of fortified iron granules “Supplefer Sprinkles”. These studies are in collaboration with Sick kids, Toronto, Canada.
  • Malaria Transmission Intensity and Mortality Burden across Africa (MTIMBA). This trial is in collaboration with INDEPTH network sites with funding from WHO-TDR.

Selected publications:

  1. Seth Owusu-Agyei, Daniel Ansong, Kwaku Asante, Sandra Kwarteng Owusu, Ruth Owusu1, Naana Ayiwa Wireko Brobby, David Dosoo, Alex Osei Akoto, Kingsley Osei-Kwakye, Emmanuel Asafo Adjei, Kwadwo Owusu Boahen, Justice Sylverken, George Adjei, David Sambian, Stephen Apanga, Kingsley Kayan, Johan Vekemans, Opokua Ofori-Anyinam, Amanda Leach, Marc Lievens,Marie-Ange Demoitie, Marie-Claude Dubois, Joe Cohen, W. Ripley Ballou, Barbara Savarese, Daniel Chandramohan, John Owusu Gyapong, Paul Milligan, Sampson Antwi, Tsiri Agbenyega, Brian Greenwood, Jennifer Evans
    Randomized Controlled Trial of RTS,S/AS02D and RTS,S/AS01E Malaria Candidate Vaccines Given According to Different Schedules in Ghanaian Children. PLoS ONE 4(10): e7302. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0007302 Published October 2, 2009

  2. Seth Owusu-Agyei, Kwaku Poku Asante, Martin Adjuik, George Adjei,
    Elizabeth Awini, Mohammed Adams, Sam Newton, David Dosoo, Dominic Dery, Akua Agyeman-Budu, John Gyapong, Brian Greenwood and Daniel Chandramohan
    Epidemiology of malaria in the forest-savanna transitional zone of Ghana.  Malaria Journal  2009, 8:220 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-220 Published: 28 September 2009

  3. Zul Premji, Rich E Umeh, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Fabian Esamai, Emmanuel U Ezedinachi, Stephen Oguche, Steffen Borrmann, Akintunde Sowunmi, Stephan Duparc, Paula L Kirby, Allan Pamba, Lynda Kellam, Robert Guiguemdé,; Brian Greenwood, Stephen A Ward, Peter A Winstanley.
    Chlorproguanil-dapsone-artesunate versus artemether-lumefantrine: a randomized, double-blind phase III trial in African children and adolescents with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria. PLoS One. 2009 Aug 19;4(8):e6682
  4. Francis Anto, Victor Asoala, Thomas Anyorigiya, Abraham Oduro, Martin Adjuik, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Dominic Dery, Maxwell Appawu, Samuel Dadzei, Langbong Bimi and Abraham Hodgson. Insecticide Resistance Profiles for Malaria Vectors in the Kassena-Nankana District of Ghana. Malar J. 2009 Apr 23;8:81.
  5. Pearce, R, Pota, H, Evehe MB, El Hadj Bâ, Mombo-Ngoma G, Malisa A, Ord R, Inojosa W, Matondo A, Diallo DA, Mbacham W, van den Broek IV, Swarthout TD, Assefa, A, Dejene, S, Grobusch, MP, Njie, F, Dunyo, S, Kweku, M, Owusu-Agyei, S, Chandramohan, D, Bonnet M, Guthmann J-P, Clarke, S, Barnes KI, Streat E, Katokele ST, Uusiku P, Agboghoroma, CO, Elegba OY, Cissé B, A-Elbasit, IE, Giha, HA, Kachur, SP, Lynch, C, Rwakimari, J, Chanda, P, Hawela, M, Sharp B, Naidoo I, Roper, C.
    Multiple origins and regional dispersal of resistant dhps in African P. falciparum malaria. PLoS Med. 2009 Apr 14;6(4)
  6. Weobong B, Akpalu B, Doku V, Owusu-Agyei S, Hurt L, Kirkwood B, Prince M. The comparative validity of screening scales for postnatal common mental disorder in Kintampo, Ghana. J Affect Disord. 2009 Feb;113(1-2):109-17.
  7. Newton S, Owusu-Agyei S, Filteau S, Gyan T, Kirkwood BR. Vitamin A supplements are well tolerated with the pentavalent vaccine. Vaccine. 2008 Oct 1.
  8. Edmond KM, Quigley MA, Zandoh C, Danso S, Hurt C, Owusu Agyei S, Kirkwood BR. Aetiology of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in rural Ghana: implications for health programming in developing countries. Paediatr Perinat Epidiol. 2008 Sep;22(5):430-7.
  9. Edmond KM, Quigley MA, Zandoh C, Danso S, Hurt C, Owusu Agyei S, Kirkwood BR. Diagnostic accuracy of verbal autopsies in ascertaining the causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in rural Ghana. Paediatr Perinat Epid. 2008 Sep;22(5):417-29.
  10. Owusu-Agyei S, Asante KP, Owusu R, Adjuik M, Amenga-Etego S, Dosoo DK, Gyapong J, Greenwood B, Chandramohan D. An open label, randomised trial of artesunate+amodiaquine, artesunate+chlorproguanil-dapsone and artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. PLoS ONE. 2008 Jun 25;3(6):e2530.
  11. Edmond KM, Kirkwood BR, Tawiah CA, Owusu-Agyei S. Impact of early infant feeding practices on mortality in low birth weight infants from rural Ghana. J Perinatol. 2008 Jun;28(6):438-44.
  12. Cairns M, Carneiro I, Milligan P, Owusu-Agyei S, Awine T, Gosling R, Greenwood B, Chandramohan D. Duration of protection against malaria and anaemia provided by intermittent preventive treatment in infants in Navrongo, Ghana. PLoS ONE. 2008 May 21;3(5):e2227.
  13. Bazzano AN, Kirkwood B, Tawiah-Agyemang C, Owusu-Agyei S, Adongo P. Social costs of skilled attendance at birth in rural Ghana. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2008 Jul;102(1):91-4. Epub 2008 Apr 8.
  14. Bazzano AN, Kirkwood BR, Tawiah-Agyemang C, Owusu-Agyei S, Adongo PB. Beyond symptom recognition: care-seeking for ill newborns in rural Ghana. Trop Med Int Health. 2008 Jan;13(1):123-8.
  15. Abdullah S, Adazu K, Masanja H, Diallo D, Hodgson A, Ilboudo-Sanogo E, Nhacolo A, Owusu-Agyei S, Thompson R, Smith T, Binka FN. Patterns of age-specific mortality in children in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2007 Dec;77(6 Suppl):99-105.
  16. Newton S, Owusu-Agyei S, Kirkwood B. Is there any monitoring of the quality of vitamin A capsules used in supplementation programs? Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;86(4):1254.
  17. Edmond KM, Kirkwood BR, Amenga-Etego S, Owusu-Agyei S, Hurt LS. Effect of early infant feeding practices on infection-specific neonatal mortality: an investigation of the causal links with observational data from rural Ghana. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;86(4):1126-31.
  18. Owusu-Agyei S, Awini E, Anto F, Mensah-Afful T, Adjuik M, Hodgson A, Afari E, Binka F. Assessing malaria control in the Kassena-Nankana district of northern Ghana through repeated surveys using the RBM tools. Malar J. 2007 Aug 4;6:103.
  19. Chandramohan D, Webster J, Smith L, Awine T, Owusu-Agyei S, Carneiro I. Is the Expanded Programme on Immunisation the most appropriate delivery system for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in West Africa? Trop Med Int Health. 2007 Jun;12(6):743-50.
  20. Chandramohan D, Hodgson A, Coleman P, Baiden R, Asante K, Awine E, Owusu-Agyei S, Boutriau D, Nelson CB, Greenwood B. An evaluation of the immunogenicity and safety of a new trivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Vaccine. 2007 Sep 3;25 Suppl 1:A83-91.
  21. Carneiro IA, Drakeley CJ, Owusu-Agyei S, Mmbando B, Chandramohan D. Haemoglobin and haematocrit: is the threefold conversion valid for assessing anaemia in malaria-endemic settings? Malar J. 2007 May 22;6:67.
  22. Newton S, Owusu-Agyei S, Ampofo W, Zandoh C, Adjuik M, Adjei G, Tchum S, Filteau S, Kirkwood BR. Vitamin A supplementation enhances infants' immune responses to hepatitis B vaccine but does not affect responses to Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. J Nutr. 2007 May;137(5):1272-7.
  23. Newton S, Owusu-Agyei S. Need to worry: wrong vitamin A doses reported! Vaccine. 2007 Jun 6;25(23):4514.
  24. Fryauff DJ, Owusu-Agyei S, Utz GC, Baird JK, Koram KA, Binka FN, Hoffman SL, Nkrumah FK: Mefloquine treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in young children of 6-24 months age living in northern Ghana. Accepted for publication in American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Feb 1, 2007; 76 (2)
  25. Tchum SK, Tanumihardjo SA, Newton S, de Benoist B, Owusu-Agyei S, Arthur FK, Tetteh. Evaluation of vitamin A supplementation regimens in Ghanaian postpartum mothers with the use of the modified-relative-dose-response test. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Dec;84(6):1344-9.
  26. Maire N, Smith T, Ross A, Owusu-Agyei S, Dietz K, Molineaux L. A model for natural immunity to asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in endemic areas. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Aug;75(2 Suppl):19-31.
  27. Falk N, Maire N, Sama W, Owusu-Agyei S, Smith T, Beck HP, Felger.I. Comparison of PCR-rflp and genescan-based genotyping for analyzing infection dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2006 June, 74(6), 944-50.
  28. Christofides A, Asante KP, Schauer C, Sharieff W, Owusu-Agyei S, Zlotkin S: Multi-micronutrient Sprinkles including a low dose of iron provided as microencapsulated ferrous fumarate improves haematologic indices in anaemic children: a randomised clinical trial. Journal compilation © Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Maternal and Child Nutrition 2006, 2, pp. 169-180
  29. Zlotkin SH, Schauer C, Owusu-Agyei S, Wolfson J, Tondeur MC, Asante KP, Newton S, Claudia Serfass WE, Sharieff W. Demonstrating Zinc and Iron bioavailability from intrinsically labeled Microencapsulated Ferrous Fumarate and Zinc Gluconate Sprinkles in Young Children. Journal of Nutrition 2006 Apr;136(4):920-5
  30. Edmond K, Zandoh C, Quigley M, Amenga-Etego S, Owusu-Agyei S, Kirkwood B: Delayed breastfeeding initiation increases risk of neonatal mortality. Pediatrics. 2006 Mar; 117(3):e380-6
  31. Sama W, Owusu-Agyei S, Felger I, Dietz K, Smith T. Age and seasonal variation in the transition rates and detectability of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Parasitology. 2006 Jan; 132(Pt 1):13-21.
  32. Newton S, Cousens S, Owusu-Agyei S, Filteau S, Stanley C, Linsell L, Kirkwood B. Vitamin a supplementation does not affect infants' immune responses to polio and tetanus vaccines. J Nutr. 2005 Nov; 135(11):2669-73.
  33. Oduro AR, Anyorigiya T, Adjuik M, Afful TM, Anto F, Atuguba F, Owusu-Agyei S, Hodgson A.
    A randomized, comparative study of two regimens of beta-artemether for treatment of uncomplicated, Plasmodium falciparum malaria in northern Ghana. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2004 Jul; 98(5): 433-40
  34. KA. Koram, S Owusu-Agyei, DJ Fryauff, F Anto, F Atuguba, A Hodgson, SL Hoffmann, FK Nkrumah:
    Seasonal profiles of malaria infection, anaemia, and bednet use among age groups and communities in northern Ghana. Trop. Med. & Int. Hlth. 2003, September 8(9), 793-802.
  35. BR. Hale, S Owusu-Agyei, KA. Koram, DJ. Fryauff, M. Adjuik, AR. Oduro, WR Prescott, JK Baird, F. Nkrumah, ED. Franke, FN. Binka, J. Horton, SL. Hoffman:
    A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Dose-ranging Trial of Tafenoquine for Weekly Prophylaxis against Plasmodium falciparum. Clin. Infect. Dis 2003, March 1; 36(5): 541-9.
  36. Owusu-Agyei S Fryauff DJ, Chandramohan D, Koram KA, Binka FN, Nkrumah FK, Utz GC, Baird JK and Hoffman SL. Characteristics of severe anaemia and its association with malaria in young children of the Kassena-Nankana District of Northern Ghana. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2002, 67(4):371-7.
  37. S. Owusu-Agyei, Fred N. Binka, K. A. Koram, F. Anto, and M.Adjuik, F. Nkrumah and T. Smith:
    Does Radical Cure of Asymptomatic P. falciparum place Adults in Endemic Areas at Increased Risk of Recurrent Symptomatic Malaria? Trop. Med. & Int. Hlth. 2002, July 7(7): 599-603.
  38. S. Owusu-Agyei, T. Smith, H-P. Beck, L. Amenga-Etego, I. Felger:
    Molecular Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum infections among asymptomatic inhabitants of a holoendemic malarious area in northern Ghana. Trop. Med. & Int. Hlth. 2002, May 7(5), 421-428.
  39. J. Kevin Baird, S. Owusu-Agyei, Gregory C. Utz, Kwadwo Koram, Mazie J. Barcus, Stephen L. Hoffman, and Francis N. Nkrumah:
    Seasonal Malaria Attack rates in Infants and Young Children in northern Ghana. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2002, 66(3), 280-286.
  40. S Owusu-Agyei, KA Koram, JK Baird, GC Utz, FN Binka, FK Nkrumah, DJ Fryauff, and SL Hoffman:
    Incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic .P. falciparum infection following curative therapy in adult residents of northern Ghana: Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2001, 65(3), 197-203.
  41. K. A. Koram, S. Owusu-Agyei, G. Utz, F. Binka , K. Baird, S. L. Hoffman, and F. K. Nkrumah:
    Severe Anaemia in Young Children after High and Low Malaria Transmission seasons in the Kassena-Nankana District of northern Ghana. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2000, 62(6), 670-674.

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