SUNDAY 5TH JULY, 2015 – UWI TODAY
5
OUR CAMPUS
Newly-appointedProfessors
ofThe UWI are encouraged to
give Public Lectures to share their specific areas of research
with the wider community. Professor Akpaka’s lecture
titled
“Microbes without borders, tracking the molecular
epidemiology of germs”
took place June 18, 2015 at the
Amphitheatre A, Faculty of Medical Sciences at the Eric
Williams Medical Sciences Complex.
According to Chief Akpaka, “Germs especially bacteria
that are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics—
are serious health problems at both local, national and
international level. Drug resistance is definitely a global
problem and there are several troubling examples when it
comes to global drug resistance to bacteria”.
A native of Nigeria, Chief Akpaka joined The
University of theWest Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus
as a Lecturer in 2005 in the Department of Para clinical
Sciences. In 2011, he was promoted to the position of
Senior Lecturer. His research works have focused on the
molecular epidemiology of the germs such as TB, MRSA,
multidrug resistant
E. coli
,
Klebsiella
and
Pseudomonas
. His
work has aimed at delineating how these germs especially
Staphylococcus aureus
crosses borders to enter hospitals and
Bacterial Paths in Trinidad Hospitals
APublic Lecture
By Dara Wilkinson Bobb
Germs especially
bacteria that
are becoming
increasingly resistant
to antibiotics—are
serious health
problems at both
local, national and
international level.
even countries.
Staphylococcus aureus
or “staph” has long
been recognized as one of the most important bacteria that
cause disease in humans. It is the leading cause of skin and
soft tissue infections such as abscesses (boils), furuncles,
and cellulitis. Did a special strain of these organisms evolve
in hospitals in Trinidad & Tobago? How do we track their
activities, movements and infections in Trinidad & Tobago
and beyond the region? Are the strains of germs we have
here in the country clonally related to those from other
countries? Those were some of the questions his lecture
attempted to answer.
Professor Akpaka’s chosen area of specialization -
Molecular epidemiology in Medical Microbiology, has
emerged from the integration of molecular biology into
traditional epidemiologic research. “This field improves
our understanding of the disease processes by identifying
specific organisms, pathways, molecules and genes that
influence the risk of developing infectious diseases,” he said.
He noted that when molecular techniques are applied to
studies of disease, it results in enhanced measurement and
increases our ability to more reliably detect associations.
UWI strengthens ties withUniversity of Havana
Principal Sankat, with Dr. Fransisco
González García, Vice Rector of
the University of Havana and the
Director of the Office of Institutional
Advancement & Internationalization,
Sharan Singh.
Principal Sankat (3rd from R) together with the Director of the Office of Institutional
Advancement & Internationalization, Sharan Singh (2nd from R) meets with the Deputy
Minister of Higher Education in Cuba, Dr. Oberto Santin (Center) and various Directors
of the International Relations Department
Joining Campus Principal and Sharan Singh is Her Excellency Jennifer
Jones-Kernahan Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Cuba (left)
