Dr. Christiana Subaar of the Department of Physics, KNUST, has been awarded a United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant through the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to support research and capacity building aimed at improving women's health diagnostics in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The project, titled “Capacity Building in Sub-Saharan Africa via Core Physics (Spectroscopy) for Women’s Health Equity,” seeks to empower early-career researchers, particularly women, to apply physics-based technologies to address critical healthcare challenges affecting women across the continent.

The initiative will provide training in optical spectroscopy, data science and device fabrication while supporting the development of a low-cost, disposable diagnostic platform for the early detection of ovarian cancer and endometriosis.

Ovarian cancer and endometriosis remain significant health challenges worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings where access to early diagnostic tools is limited. 

By leveraging advances in spectroscopy and data analytics, the project aims to improve access to affordable diagnostic technologies and support earlier detection and treatment.

The project brings together a network of institutions including University of Southampton, KNUST, the University of Cape Coast, the University of Dar es Salaam and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology.

In addition to developing diagnostic technologies, the project seeks to build a new generation of African scientists capable of translating physics research into practical healthcare solutions. 

Through training, mentorship and international collaboration, participating researchers will gain expertise in emerging technologies that bridge the gap between physical sciences and medicine.