Ethics, COVID-19 & Africa

Aminu Yakubu, BSc, MPH
VP, Governance & Ethics at 54gene

Prior to 54gene, Aminu was most recently a Science Program Specialist with Nigeria country office of the US Centers for Disease Control where he worked to ensure technical coherence and alignment with extant human subject protection policies of protocols for studies being conducted or supported by the agency. He also worked with the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria where he supported the National Health Research Ethics Committee in reviewing protocols for nationally representative studies, provided guidance to researchers on the application of the National Code for Health Research Ethics, and was involved in the development of several policies for human subject protections in Nigeria. Aminu Yakubu also chaired the H3Africa Ethics and Regulatory Affairs Working Group previously in 2016/2018.

Aminu holds a Bachelors Degree in Biochemistry from Bayero University Kano, Master of Public Health Degree from University of Birmingham, UK; and has received postgraduate training in Bioethics from the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. His research interests are in research ethics governance related to genomics research and research ethics committees, health systems research ethics as well as ethics of research during disease outbreaks.

Dr. Addissie is Associate Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, AAU School of Public Health; academic coordinator and course leader of Master’s program in Field Epidemiology Training since 2009; and member of the IRB of AAU in Ethiopia. He was the first individual in Ethiopia to have completed a PhD in Bioethics. He has been IRB member at AAU since 2009, vice chair from 2012 to 2017, and chair since 2017; secretary of the Department of Preventive medicine; and member of the academic commission of School of Public Health since 2012. He is also member of the medical research council of AAU-CHS; member of the executive committee (board) of the Ethiopian Medical Association where he is chairperson of the Medical Ethics Steering Committee; co-chairperson for African Ethics Working Group for NGap; alumni of JHU Global Bioethics Training Program; and PI and Co-PI of various research projects between AAU and other international collaborators such as Wellcome Trust, WHO/TDR, DAAD. He is also involved in teaching and advising MPH and PhD students at AAU; currently teaches Health Care Ethics for PhD students.

Dr. Addissie is Associate Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, AAU School of Public Health; academic coordinator and course leader of Master’s program in Field Epidemiology Training since 2009; and member of the IRB of AAU in Ethiopia. He was the first individual in Ethiopia to have completed a PhD in Bioethics. He has been IRB member at AAU since 2009, vice chair from 2012 to 2017, and chair since 2017; secretary of the Department of Preventive medicine; and member of the academic commission of School of Public Health since 2012. He is also member of the medical research council of AAU-CHS; member of the executive committee (board) of the Ethiopian Medical Association where he is chairperson of the Medical Ethics Steering Committee; co-chairperson for African Ethics Working Group for NGap; alumni of JHU Global Bioethics Training Program; and PI and Co-PI of various research projects between AAU and other international collaborators such as Wellcome Trust, WHO/TDR, DAAD. He is also involved in teaching and advising MPH and PhD students at AAU; currently teaches Health Care Ethics for PhD students.

Sody Munsaka, Sc, MSc, PhD
University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Dr. Sody M. Munsaka is a Neuroimmune and Infectious Diseases Scientist working as a Lecturer and Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences. He also serves as Acting Dean of the School of Health Sciences. His research interest is in Patho-immune mechanisms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and interactions with drug abuse and other infectious diseases including malaria and tuberculosis. He is also involved in a research project to evaluate correlates of immune dysfunction in HIV- and HHV-8-infected patients. He graduated from the University of Zambia (BSc-Biological Sciences, Microbiology major), and the University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (MSc and PhD in Biomedical Sciences-Tropical Medicine). Dr. Munsaka also completed his post-doctoral fellowship in Neuroscience (Neuroimmune Pharmacology) from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Medicine Neuroscience and Magnetic Resonance Research programme.

Paulina Onvomaha Tindana, BA, MHS, PhD
University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Dr. Paulina Tindana is a Senior Lecturer and Bioethicist at the University of Ghana School of Public Health. Before she joined the faculty in 2018, she was a Deputy Chief Health Research Officer at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service in northern Ghana where she worked for over 20 years conducting social science research and supporting the research ethics review process, training research ethics committees and community engagement activities. Her teaching and research focus on the ethical, social, cultural and policy implications of international collaborative research, particularly the practical ethical issues arising in genetic/genomic research, informed consent, ethics review, community engagement strategies in global health research and health systems research ethics. She has published extensively on these topics and contributed to several international and Consortia ethics guidelines such as the H3Africa informed consent guidelines, community engagement guidelines, Feedback of Findings Policy and Framework on Best Practices in Genomics and Biobanking in Africa.

Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel Mulate, MD, MSc, PhD
Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Dr. Yimtu Woldeamanuel Mulate is Associate Professor in the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. She served for two terms as Head of Department of Microbiology. In addition to her duties as lecturer and researcher at AAU, Dr. Woldeamanuel currently serves as a co-Chair in two IRBs in Addis Ababa.  Dr. Woldeamanue has a diverse background in infectious disease research mainly focusing on the diagnosis of infectious diseases; hospital acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance.  She is involved in several collaborative research groups, among which is The Center for innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) which is a semi-autonomous, World Bank supported regional center of excellence for education and research that seeks to support equitable access to interventions (Medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other interventions) and bring about sustainable development in Africa through high quality capacity development for novel therapeutic discoveries supported by clinical trials.

Sody Munsaka, Sc, MSc, PhD
University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Dr. Sody M. Munsaka is a Neuroimmune and Infectious Diseases Scientist working as a Lecturer and Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences. He also serves as Acting Dean of the School of Health Sciences. His research interest is in Patho-immune mechanisms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders and interactions with drug abuse and other infectious diseases including malaria and tuberculosis. He is also involved in a research project to evaluate correlates of immune dysfunction in HIV- and HHV-8-infected patients. He graduated from the University of Zambia (BSc-Biological Sciences, Microbiology major), and the University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (MSc and PhD in Biomedical Sciences-Tropical Medicine). Dr. Munsaka also completed his post-doctoral fellowship in Neuroscience (Neuroimmune Pharmacology) from the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Medicine Neuroscience and Magnetic Resonance Research programme.

Paulina Onvomaha Tindana, BA, MHS, PhD
University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Dr. Paulina Tindana is a Senior Lecturer and Bioethicist at the University of Ghana School of Public Health. Before she joined the faculty in 2018, she was a Deputy Chief Health Research Officer at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service in northern Ghana where she worked for over 20 years conducting social science research and supporting the research ethics review process, training research ethics committees and community engagement activities. Her teaching and research focus on the ethical, social, cultural and policy implications of international collaborative research, particularly the practical ethical issues arising in genetic/genomic research, informed consent, ethics review, community engagement strategies in global health research and health systems research ethics. She has published extensively on these topics and contributed to several international and Consortia ethics guidelines such as the H3Africa informed consent guidelines, community engagement guidelines, Feedback of Findings Policy and Framework on Best Practices in Genomics and Biobanking in Africa.