WACCBIP/CHAG/FCDO organises workshop on genome sequencing and regulatory affairs

The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), in collaboration with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and with funding support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has organised a three-day residential training workshop for biomedical and medical laboratory scientists of CHAG.

The workshop, which took place at the WACCBIP Conference Hall, brought together over 40 participants from all the CHAG facilities across the 16 regions of Ghana to provide them with the required skills in genome sequencing and also to expose them to the regulatory affairs related to the laboratory.

The workshop instructors and organisers included Professor Osbourne Ouaye-Head, Department of Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology; Dr Peter Quashie, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director for Research at WACCBIP; Dr Gloria Amegatcher, a Postdoctoral Fellow at WACCBIP; Dr Koby Sarpong, Dr Paulina Tindana, a Bioethicist at the School of Public Health, University of Ghana and Dr Justice Yankson, Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association. Others were Dr Daniel Oduro-Mensah, Ing. Senam Tengey, from the Medical Waste Services Ltd, a subsidiary of the JOSPONG Group of Companies; Dr Theresa Manful Gwira, Coordinator, Graduate Admissions and Examinations at WACCBIP; Dr Yaw Aniweh, Senior Research Fellow and Head of Technology at WACCBIP; Ms Joyce Ngoi Next-Generation Sequencing Manager, Dr Lucas Amenga-Etego, a Senior Research Fellow; Mr Francis Dzabeng, Data Manager and Mr Collins Misita Morang’a, a Bioinformatician at WACCBIP.

The participants were taken through topics such as bioethics, medical-legal issues related to the laboratory, specimen management, genome sequencing, medical waste disposal data management, and antigen/antibody testing. They were also taken through practical sessions on protein expression, genomic sequencing, as well as a microscopy rotation session.

The workshop's final day was dedicated to a special session on bioinformatics where participants were prepared for the influx of data, associated methodologies, and data-driven projects against the backdrop of advances in computers for the tech industry and convergence between computer technologies and data and emerging high throughput molecular assays. They proceeded to have a group session where they presented on the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data to bring the 3-day workshop to an end.

The workshop was a huge success, garnering acclaim from participants. The following are the impressions some participants made of the workshop:

"This is my first time attending a WACCBIP workshop. It is also my first time attending a workshop of this nature where they infused practical with theory. It has been a one-of-a-kind workshop,” Emmanuella Dentaa Asibuo of the SDA Hospital.

"The workshop was very interactive. It has provided us with information on a variety of topics. The resource people were likewise up to the task. We will also educate our colleagues on the things we have learned here,” Eugene Kwame Abugre-Bawku Presbyterian Hospital.

"This is my first time coming to a WACCBIP workshop. The workshop was beneficial. The organisers and resource people were fantastic. I like how the resource persons limited medical jargon for easy comprehension," Prince Minkah-St. Peter’s Hospital.

“This workshop has been beneficial. It has enlightened us. The facilitator did very well. I will implement the things I have learned here when I go back," Francis Opoku Gyebi, a laboratory manager at St. Gregory Catholic Hospital.

Dr Paulina Atindana delivers a session on Bioethics