Professor Margaret Gyapong wins ‘Outstanding Female Scientist’ prize

Professor Margaret Gyapong, Director of the Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), has received the ‘Most Outstanding Female Scientist 2020 Prize’ from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP).

The award was in recognition of her involvement in research and innovation activities in sub-Saharan Africa and the significant scientific contributions she continued to make in the field.

EDCTP, which among other things supports clinical research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa, described Professor Gyapong as “a true ambassador to achieving equity in research for health.”

Prof Gyapong, a former Director of the Dodowa Health Research Centre in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, has for the past 25 years risen through the ranks of the research ladder to become a seasoned and internationally renowned scientist.

Expressing appreciation to her team in an interview, she praised funding organisations such as the EDCTP for deepening scientific research in Africa, adding that she had always dreamt of winning the award and was, therefore, humbled upon receiving the grand prize.

With a background in Medical Anthropology and Epidemiology and Research, her interests are in Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases and Implementation Research.

Prof Gyapong said she was working on other projects including Adolescent Reproductive Health as well as “exploring implementation challenges” in the newly developed malaria vaccine.

In 2017, she was one of 12 women across the world to receive the first Heroines of Health Award for her work in drawing attention to the needs of women suffering from the consequences of Neglected Tropical Disease.

She is a Reviewer and Associate Editor for a number of international journals and has 94 publications to her credit.

The scholar, married to Prof. John Owusu Gyapong with three daughters, urged female scientists to rise up to the task, irrespective of the many commitments and challenges they faced.

EDCTP is a partnership between countries in Europe and Sub-saharan Africa, supported by the European Union. 

Comprising 14 European countries and 16 African countries, the organisation “accelerates the clinical development of new or improved medicinal products for the identification, treatment and prevention of poverty-related infectious diseases.”

By Spectator Reporter