Prof Reginald Adjetey Annan of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science has been named by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) as the first ever principal investigator who is from, based in, and researching in Africa to win a WCRF Award:
Prof Annan, at Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, will examine how metabolic syndrome and gut microbiome may impact breast cancer risk in Ghanaian women.
Breast cancer is a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa challenging healthcare systems. Women of African descent are more likely to develop an aggressive form of breast cancer called triple-negative breast cancer, which affects recovery rates. Most studies on breast cancer have been conducted among women of other races in other parts of the world and similar studies in Africa are non-existent.
This study will evaluate the role of metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that together increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke), and gut microbiome (the microorganisms in our digestive system), and other factors in breast cancer risk and survival among women attending breast cancer screening centers in Ghana.
Breast cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, placing immense strain on healthcare systems. Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form that negatively impacts recovery outcomes. However, most existing breast cancer research has been conducted on women from other racial groups in different regions, with limited studies focusing on the African context.
This study aims to investigate the influence of metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that elevate the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke—along with the gut microbiome and other contributing factors on breast cancer risk and survival among women attending breast cancer screening centers in Ghana.
Read more about the study here:
