Director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at the University of Bonn, Germany, Prof. Achim Hörauf is encouraging Ghanaian scientists to focus on small groups of diseases to achieve the maximum impact.

Speaking at a public lecture, he pointed out this would involve recruiting relevant experts and seeking sufficient funding.

“You have to be specific on a small group of diseases in order to make an impact. Institutions should focus on their strongholds and hire with a track record and look for available funding,” he said.

Prof. Hörauf and his Ghanaian counterpart, Prof. Alexander Yaw Debrah of KNUST discovered an important mechanism in elephantiasis infection which led to the use of readily available antibiotics such as doxycycline, to treat the elephantiasis-causing worms.

These results led to subsequent clinical trials using other available antibiotics and also the development of novel antibiotics targeting these worms.

The lecture organised by the German-West Africa Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention was under the theme: “From bench to bedside-what it takes to bring; laboratory discovery into clinical practice."

The professor of parasitology discussed lessons from his engagement in teaching and research that has affected populations plagued by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), especially filariasis. 

Though he acknowledged the lack of interest by big pharma in the development of drugs for NTDS, he was hopeful of collaboration among stakeholders to encourage production of these drugs.