UB researcher wins TWAS Young Scientists Prize

Senior instructor of Biochemistry and Researcher in the University of Buea, UB, Dr. Denis Zofou has won the 2014 TWAS-ROSSA Young Scientists Prize in Applied Sciences.

Dr. Zofou was declared winner by the Executive Director of the African Academy of Sciences, AAS, Prof. Berhanu Abegaz, during the 10th annual meeting of TWAS-ROSSA that recently took place in Alexandria, Egypt.

Zofou was honoured for his studies on anti-malarial natural products for the treatment of malaria-resistant drug.

“This prize has been awarded in recognition of Dr. Zofou’s studies on anti-malarial natural products for the treatment of malaria resistant drug,” Prof. Abegaz stated.

In a presentation, during the solemn award ceremony titled: “A Roadmap to Positioning African Academy of Sciences for Better Impact in Africa.” Prof. Abegaz gave an overview of the genesis and evolution of AAS and emphasised on the recent achievements of the institution under his stewardship.

He further presented a summary of the essence of the Young Scientists Prize in Applied Sciences and the selection criteria; before announcing Dr. Zofou as the winner.

The prize certificate was handed over by the Chairperson of the meeting, Prof. Ismail Serageldin, Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina Egypt.

Meanwhile, malaria continues to be a leading public health threat in Africa, and traditional medicine plays a key role in the daily health care of most Africans.

At the Biotechnology Unit in UB, Dr. Zofou and his collaborators have been working towards optimising the quality of plant products both as standardised phytomedicines or source of new drug candidates.

In order to sustain Zofou’s research work, TWAS has approved a research grant dedicated for laboratory equipment and reagents to foster his research in UB, and the cost of his participation at international conferences and publication of scientific papers from the work done within a period of 18 months which is renewable.

After the award, the UB researcher made a power point presentation and delivered a talk on; “Malaria treatment in African folk medicine: Designing novel antimalarial Natural Products from selected African Medicinal Plants.” His presentation attracted several reactions and applauses from participants.

Some of the participants wanted further clarifications while others were interested in establishing collaboration with the UB instructor and researcher.

Zofou is currently leading two research projects; one co-funded by TWAS and the International Foundation for Science, IFS, Stockholm-Sweden and hosted by UB.

The research is focusing on the development of malaria drug candidates from pure compounds previously isolated by the Cameroon-based research team from local medicinal plants and the second research is funded by a research grant awarded by the African Organisation for Intellectual Property and co-hosted by the Cameroon Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, IMPM, Yaounde and UB.

The research is to design two improved phytomedicines from Cameroonian Pharmacopoeia.

Zofou obtained his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Vincent P.K. Titanji from UB in 2011.

He has, so far, co-authored one book chapter and more than 20 scientific articles in well-known international journals.

He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Biotechnology and Biomaterials, OMICS Publishing Group, USA. He has been invited as reviewer in several scientific journals.

He has equally been a member of some national and international learned organisations including: the Cameroon Society of Biosciences, Medécins d’Afrique, the African Network for Drug Discovery and Diagnosis Innovation, ANDI, International Society of Infectious Diseases, ISID, among others.

At UB, Zofou has been involved in teaching as an Instructor of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Science since 2010.