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Microbiome profiling of non-healing filarial lymphedema wounds in Ghana

The following grant was awarded by, is supported by, is administered by or is in partnership with the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Funding Fogarty Program

Emerging Global Leader

Project Information in NIH RePORTER

Microbiome profiling of non-healing filarial lymphedema wounds in Ghana

Principal Institution

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Principal Investigator(s) (PI)

Kwarteng, Alexander

Project Contact Information

Email: senkwarteng@yahoo.co.uk

Year(s) Awarded

2024-2029

Country

Ghana

Project Description

At first glance, lymphatic filariasis (LF) may appear as an obscure tropical disease, overlooked by many and, as such, there exists no standard protocol in managing LF manifestation and related complications. LF-associated manifestations, especially lymphedema (LE), involve recurrent wounds and infections that bring about chronic pain, disfigurement, disability, and economic devastation that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and despair (Asiedu et al., 2022).

Understanding the critical importance of this problem is paramount. Hence, through this comprehensive career-development program, this project seeks to characterize microbial communities that colonize the debilitating chronic filarial wounds and to help establish LF-specific genomic library that will guide evidence-based interventions to empower communities and restore their health and dignity.

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