{"id":463672,"date":"2024-11-21T06:00:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T06:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/?p=463672"},"modified":"2024-11-21T05:19:42","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T05:19:42","slug":"cancer-research-ghana-phd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/news\/cancer-research-ghana-phd\/","title":{"rendered":"The PhD student who wants to start Ghana’s first cancer research institute"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2022, the <\/span>Global Cancer Observatory<\/span><\/a> reported 27,385 new cancer cases and 17,944 deaths in Ghana.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Predictions from <\/span>The Lancet Oncology<\/span><\/a> warn that by 2030, the death toll across sub-Saharan Africa could surge to one million annually, a stark contrast to the 520,348 deaths recorded in 2020.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, until 2023, Ghana had no designated National Cancer Institute for comprehensive cancer research,<\/span>\u00a0reflecting <\/span>insufficient support for cancer research<\/span><\/a> across sub-Saharan Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

This lack of support manifests in poor funding, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of mentors for aspiring researchers. The scarcity of local cancer data further complicates efforts to develop relevant treatments.<\/span><\/p>\n

These challenges bear a heavy weight on Bismark Acheampong<\/span><\/a>, a biomedical science student from Ghana. For him, pursuing cancer research has been a difficult but deeply personal journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"cancer

Ghana’s lack of resources, funds, and support from the local government in cancer research meant that Acheampong had to move abroad to pursue his research. Source: Bismark Acheampong<\/p><\/div>\n

Turning passion into purpose<\/span><\/h2>\n

Born and raised in Ghana, Acheampong joined Kwame Nkrumah ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø of Science and Technology (KNUST)<\/a>\u00a0to study\u00a0Biological Sciences<\/a> for his undergraduate degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was then, during one of his internships, that his interest in cancer research began.<\/p>\n

“While shadowing a medical doctor during my internship, I met several patients who were diagnosed with cancer,” shares Acheampong. “We were trying to search for treatment or palliative care, but there was not much we could do.”<\/p>\n

“With that, I found a passion in that area of research because I want to return home to help the community find a cure or at least a treatment for cancer.”<\/p>\n

However, the road ahead was far from easy. As Acheampong quickly learned, cancer research programmes in the country were scarce, and funding was nearly non-existent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even as his academic journey progressed, opportunities for cancer research remained limited. Ghana\u2019s leading institutions, such as the <\/span>Noguchi Institute for Medical Research<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research<\/span><\/a>, faced the same financial and technological constraints.<\/span><\/p>\n

Across Africa, infectious diseases like Ebola, cholera, and malaria dominate health priorities, leaving cancer research marginalised. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s little effort in Africa to prevent or cure even the deadliest diseases,\u201d says Acheampong.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"cancer

Losing his Erasmus Mundus scholarship was devastating, but Acheampong refused to give up and applied to several universities in the US for the first time, where he received three fully funded scholarships. Source: Bismark Acheampong<\/p><\/div>\n

“There was no funding, so my Erasmus Mundus scholarship was retracted”<\/span><\/h2>\n

Determined to overcome these barriers and dive into cancer research, Acheampong began applying for graduate programmes abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n

His first success came when he was awarded an Erasmus Mundus scholarship<\/a> for a master\u2019s in Vaccinology.<\/span><\/p>\n

“With the urgency for cancer vaccines, it piqued my interest,” says Acheampong. “At the time, I planned on applying for a PhD programme related to cancer with a focus on cancer immunology once I complete my master’s.”<\/p>\n

But, just as he prepared to move to Europe, the scholarship was revoked due to funding cuts from the European Commission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Acheampong<\/span> was informed that he could still pursue his master’s if he could pay for half of the tuition, but that was not possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was devastating. I wasn\u2019t the only one affected — several friends had already quit their jobs in anticipation of the programme,\u201d Acheampong says.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"cancer

Acheampong has research experience in Neglected Tropical Infectious Diseases (NTDs) and Cell and Developmental Biology. Source: Bismark Acheampong<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite this setback, Acheampong refused to give up. Instead, he turned his sights to the US, a leader in cancer research<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the support of mentors in Ghana, Acheampong applied to six PhD programmes in the US and was accepted into three fully funded programmes, including one at <\/span>Vanderbilt ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø,<\/span><\/a> where he\u2019s now pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Science with a focus on Cancer Biology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acheampong\u2019s long-term goal is to return to Ghana and collaborate efforts to establish the country\u2019s first comprehensive cancer research institute. \u201cIt won\u2019t be big, but it will be a start,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

His vision includes training future generations of researchers and introducing a cancer biology degree programme in Ghanaian universities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"cancer

Acheampong aims to return to Ghana as an independent researcher to start a cancer research institute and develop therapies for patients worldwide. Source: Bismark Acheampong<\/p><\/div>\n

Advice from a cancer research student about studying abroad<\/span><\/h2>\n

For those who aspire to study abroad, Acheampong offers candid advice: \u201cPrepare mentally for rejection \u2014 it\u2019s part of the process. <\/span>But don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to programme faculty. Even if they don\u2019t have a spot for you, you\u2019ve lost nothing by asking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Acheampong also cautions against fixating on prestigious universities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about finding the right fit for your research. You don\u2019t need to only attend an Ivy League school to succeed,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I found a passion in that area of research because I want to return home to help the community find a cure or at least a treatment for cancer.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":464464,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,64],"tags":[15],"countries":[421,11],"partner":[],"class_list":["post-463672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-postgraduate","category-what-to-study","tag-feel-good","countries-ghana","countries-usa"],"acf":{"modules":null},"meta-shares":{"_edit_lock":["1732166278:292"],"_edit_last":["292"],"rank_math_internal_links_processed":["1"],"rank_math_seo_score":["85"],"rank_math_focus_keyword":["cancer research"],"rank_math_title":["PhD student aims to start Ghana's 1st cancer research centre"],"rank_math_description":["Cancer research is basically non-existent in Ghana. PhD student Bismark Acheampong wants to change that -- this is his journey to making a difference."],"modules":[""],"_modules":["field_5edcc237eda41"],"writer":["Nicole"],"_writer":["field_638d6787aca49"],"facebook_caption":[""],"_facebook_caption":["field_6620ce4d59c6b"],"twitter_caption":[""],"_twitter_caption":["field_6620ce6359c6c"],"featured_video":[""],"_featured_video":["field_5f4e02d630b26"],"promoted_content":["0"],"_promoted_content":["field_658173cb8b766"],"university":[""],"_university":["field_5f6b24f9e9241"],"intro_content":[""],"_intro_content":["field_5f74836d08a2d"],"intro_image":[""],"_intro_image":["field_5f749843ec734"],"you_might_like_posts":["a:3:{i:0;s:6:\"450186\";i:1;s:6:\"460786\";i:2;s:6:\"459539\";}"],"_you_might_like_posts":["field_5f885f2d79a1f"],"read_more_sponsored_articles":[""],"_read_more_sponsored_articles":["field_5f8da648b7745"],"shares":[""],"_shares":["field_601159b126c23"],"adverts":[""],"_adverts":["field_5f5f8f450e6d2"],"colours":["white"],"_colours":["field_5f3b9c6e0c3a6"],"emojis":["accommodation"],"_emojis":["field_5f3b9c7a0c3a7"],"content_block":[""],"_content_block":["field_5f7c584712307"],"event_detail_title":[""],"_event_detail_title":["field_5f68b37d41715"],"event_details_0_event_university":[""],"_event_details_0_event_university":["field_5f68b3c541716"],"event_details_0_event_date":[""],"_event_details_0_event_date":["field_5f68b40b31f82"],"event_details_0_event_country":[""],"_event_details_0_event_country":["field_5f68b5416f3dd"],"event_details_0_event_cta_label":["Book now"],"_event_details_0_event_cta_label":["field_5f68b58be5f8b"],"event_details_0_event_cta_url":[""],"_event_details_0_event_cta_url":["field_5f68b60176d82"],"event_details":["1"],"_event_details":["field_5f68b476bd21a"],"sidebar_modules":[""],"_sidebar_modules":["field_5edcc237eda41"],"sidebar":[""],"_sidebar":["field_5f772bea374f2"],"rank_math_primary_category":["0"],"_post_views_count":["768"],"_thumbnail_id":["464464"],"meta-shares":["15"],"algolia_searchable_posts_records_count":["3"],"rank_math_og_content_image":["a:2:{s:5:\"check\";s:32:\"33fa4eb3b45a473bd5fb4ba3091d20a2\";s:6:\"images\";a:4:{i:0;i:464465;i:1;i:464466;i:2;i:464470;i:3;i:464468;}}"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/463672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=463672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/463672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/464464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=463672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=463672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=463672"},{"taxonomy":"countries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/countries?post=463672"},{"taxonomy":"partner","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studyinternational.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/partner?post=463672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}