CHS Honours Outstanding Research Excellence at 3rd Biennial Postgraduate Conference
The KNUST College of Health Sciences (CHS) recognized exceptional research contributions by postgraduate students at the closing ceremony of its 3rd Biennial Postgraduate Conference, awarding prizes for the best oral and poster presentations from among 173 scientific abstracts presented over the two-day event.
Held under the theme “Advancing Health through Responsible Research, Innovation, and Ethical Artificial Intelligence,” the conference brought together postgraduate students, researchers, clinicians, academics, innovators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to explore emerging trends and transformative solutions in healthcare and biomedical sciences.
The conference served as a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the dissemination of cutting-edge research findings to address contemporary health challenges. A total of 173 scientific abstracts were submitted, comprising 40 oral presentations and 133 poster presentations. The presentations spanned diverse thematic areas, including Animal Health, Antimicrobial Resistance, Clinical Research, Disease Pathogenesis, Genetics and Genomics, Herbal and Plant Medicine, Immunology, ICT and Artificial Intelligence, One Health, Parasitic Infections, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health, Viral Infections, and Zoonotic Diseases.
Following rigorous evaluation by expert panels, outstanding presentations demonstrating scientific merit, innovation, relevance, and impact were selected for recognition.
Best Oral Presentations
The award for Best Oral Presentation was won by Miss Emmanuella Akosua Adu for her study titled “Beyond Antibiotic Use: Climatic, Structural, and Spatial Clustering of 3rd Generation Cephalosporins-Resistant Escherichia coli Bloodstream Infections Worldwide.” Her research provided valuable insights into the complex environmental and structural factors contributing to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance.
The first runner-up position was awarded to Obed Amoako-Ntow for his presentation on “An Investigation into the Antidiabetogenic Effects of Green Tea and Black Tea,” which explored the therapeutic potential of commonly consumed beverages in diabetes management.
Priscilla Akuffo Asah secured the second runner-up position with her presentation titled “Anticancer Activity of Novel Platinum Complexes on Human PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells,” highlighting promising advances in cancer therapeutics.
Best Poster Presentations
In the poster presentation category, Eugene Owuraku Koranteng Atiemo emerged as the overall winner for his research titled “Needlestick Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in Selected Hospitals in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana.” The study shed light on occupational health risks faced by healthcare professionals and underscored the need for strengthened safety interventions.
The first runner-up award went to Alipitio Boo for the poster presentation “Navigating Transition: The Lived Experiences of Nurse and Midwife Specialists in Ghana’s Health System,” which examined the professional experiences and challenges encountered by specialist nurses and midwives.
Kusi Frank was named second runner-up for his research titled “Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Road Traffic Crashes and Hotspot Identification in the Ashanti Region of Ghana (2021–2025),” a study that provides evidence to support road safety planning and public health interventions.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Prof. Christian Agyare, the Provost of the KNUST College of Health Sciences commended all participants for the high quality of research showcased during the conference. They noted that the breadth of topics presented reflected the growing commitment of postgraduate students and researchers to generating evidence-based solutions for pressing health challenges at local, national, and global levels.
The awards ceremony marked a fitting climax to a successful conference, reaffirming the College of Health Sciences’ commitment to fostering research excellence, innovation, and ethical scientific practice. Through initiatives such as the Biennial Postgraduate Conference, the College continues to provide a platform for emerging researchers to showcase their work, build collaborations, and contribute meaningfully to advancements in healthcare and scientific discovery.
