• The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad

Nigerian lab joins global race to produce coronavirus vaccine

byChiamaka Okafor
April 24, 2020
Reading Time: 5 mins read
1

As the world frantically searches for solution to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private Nigerian laboratory has joined the race to produce a vaccine against the deadly disease.

African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), located at Redeemer University in Ede, Osun State, is collaborating with Cambridge University in the United Kingdom on the project.

The private laboratory, which is a strategic partner of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), is responsible for all COVID-19 testing in Kwara and the south-west states, except Lagos.

Coordinating the project at the centre is Christian Happi, a professor of molecular biology and genomics study who as the laboratory’s director runs the project that is currently at early vaccine development stage.

He leads a team of 21 African researchers and vaccine developers in the race toward the production of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Mr Happi’s journey to the peak of molecular biology and genomics study started modestly in 1992 at the University of Yaounde, Cameroon, where he completed a bachelor’s degree and proceeded to Nigeria where he took masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Ibadan.

After a postdoctoral fellowship at the famed Harvard University School of Public Health in the United States, Mr Happi worked as a research scientist for three years at the same institution from 2004 and became an adjunct professor between 2007-2011.

He is currently a visiting professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases (IID), at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), and the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology of the same university.Harvard University.

Atiku-Okowa AD

He confirmed the diagnosis of the first case of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria in 2014 and worked closely with Nigerian health authorities for the successful containment of the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria.

He recently used next generation sequencing technology to perform the first sequence of the new SARS-CoV-2 in Africa, within 48 hours of receiving a sample of the first case in Nigeria.

During the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, Mr Happi and colleagues used advanced genomics and deep sequencing technology to rapidly develop new rapid diagnostics tests (five minutes) against Ebola Virus disease, within four months of the outbreak. The WHO and the US FDA approved this diagnosis.

He has also worked with his collaborators to develop a novel five minutes rapid diagnosis test for Lassa fever. In addition to these major breakthroughs, Mr Happi discovered two new viruses (EKV-1 and EKV-2) in Ekpoma Edo State, using a new cutting-edge technology called microbial metagenomics, in 2015.

NAHCON State AD NAHCON Tour Operator AD NAHCON Cargo Operator AD

Kogi AD

TEXEM Advert

Mr Happi has received several prestigious International Awards for innovation and Health Leaderships, including the Merle Sande Africa Health Leadership in 2011 and the 2019 Human Genome Organization (HUGO) Africa Prize in recognition of his outstanding and extensive contributions in applying genomics knowledge in addressing major infectious diseases challenges in Africa, especially malaria and Lassa fever and Ebola Virus Disease.

One of the young scientists involved in the project at ACEGID is Judith Oguzie, a researcher and Ph.D candidate in Molecular Biology and Genomics.

“My role in the COVID19 work is on diagnostics of patient samples by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and next generation sequencing of positive samples to understand genomic diversity of the virus circulating in Nigeria. These data we generate will inform understanding of the virus and help in drug and vaccine development,” she told Premium Times.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Ms Oguzie is part of the team working on COVID samples from Nigeria.

Mr Happi told PREMIUM TIMES that one possible pleasant outcome of the collaboration with a global laboratory like their Cambridge counterpart is that it eliminates the tyranny of giant pharmaceutical companies against poor and developing nations. In this situation, Mr Happi said, “there will be equal benefit from the vaccine if successfully produced as this is an equal partnership project.

READ ALSO: Childhood TB shot may offer long-term protection from lung cancer – Study

“The vaccines have always come from the West, it is only natural that whoever produces a vaccine owns it but in this case we co-own it, we are contributing knowledge as well,” he said.

Mr Happi said the problem of access to vaccines and equity usually encountered by Africa is because of the lack of knowledge contribution to the development of these vaccines.

But ACEGID faces challenges like the lack of adequate PPE and finances.

Mr Happi and his team are getting a thumbs up from a patriarch of virology, generally considered in the academy as the current godhead in the study of infectious diseases in the country, Oyewale Tomori. The professor said: “This is a welcome development indeed. However, I will rather the country invest in developing capability in clinical trials as it is easier for Nigeria as a country to pull that, considering the environment.”

Mr Tomori stressed that Nigeria does not have the basic infrastructure (electricity, water, and many other things) essential for vaccine production, but while ACEGID continues with the research, the country can work towards establishing laboratories for clinical trials.

“We need to have a reorientation to make people understand that your work and my work are of equal importance and until you do yours well, I cannot do mine.

“The government has to put all of the infrastructure in place, it is not the duty of citizens or private practices to do so”, he said, adding that it is only when these structures are in place that work can be done effectively.

Citizens Reaction

“If we can produce our vaccine, it is great, but vaccine production boils down to an enabling environment which we lack in Nigeria,” said Chinwe Uzochukwu, an associate professor of health communication at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.

A professor of medicinal chemistry at the same university, Ikemefuna Uzochukwu, in a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, said vaccines are vaccines regardless of where they come from, provided they meet the global protocol for assessing vaccines. However, he said the local content is super.

“It is a great move if they stick to all the guidelines”, said Geraldine Iwu, a private business woman in Abuja with enthusiasm in science matters.

Tobenna Obiano, an editor at Explorer magazine based in Anambra State, thinks it is a win-win for the world regardless of where the vaccine comes from. But interestingly, he prefers a vaccine from the West for ‘obvious’ reasons.

“I have so much faith in Nigeria’s health system and with good support both from our government and the citizens at large, Nigeria can produce a vaccine that will salvage the situation,” Nyarum Babamaji, a state counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Plateau State, said.

The search for a vaccine against COVID-19 is gathering pace in many parts of the world. The British Health Minister, Matt Hancock, announced on April 21 that a vaccine developed by researchers at Oxford University would be tested on people on Thursday April 23. Human trials of a potential vaccine for the coronavirus were set to begin in the U.K. in the week.

“In normal times, reaching this stage would take years, and I’m very proud of the work taken so far,” he said in a daily news briefing.

Mr Hancock said he would make £20 million ($24.5 million) available to the scientists at Oxford, as well as an additional £22.5 million in funding for researchers at Imperial College London.

“Nothing about this process is certain,” he said. “Vaccine development is a process of trial and error and trial again. That’s the nature of how vaccines are developed.”

Moderna, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, began the first human trial testing for a potential vaccine to prevent Covid-19 in March.

There are currently around 70 Covid-19 vaccines in development around the world, while only a handful are being tested on humans.

Sanofi and GSK, Johnson and Johnson expect to go into massive production of vaccines after their first human trial in the second half of 2020 is successful.

The ACEGID prospect is bound to excite Nigerians, coming at a time when the much advertised hydroxychloroquine as an antidote to coronavirus is suffering significant setbacks, with a recent French study indicating it is less effective than had been promoted.

“This provides evidence that hydroxychloroquine does not apparently treat patients with Covid 19,” said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Even worse, there were side effects caused by the drug — heart toxicities that required it be discontinued,” a CNN report said.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print



Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

N23.7 billion of Abacha loot paid to poor Nigerians, Civil society group says

Next Post

Veteran Nollywood actor, Yomi Obileye, is dead

Chiamaka Okafor

Chiamaka Okafor

More News

COVID-19 vaccination [PHOTO CREDIT: @UNICEF_Nigeria]

EXPLAINER: What you need to know about Diphtheria

January 31, 2023
Nigeria COVID-19 cases, deaths and vaccination figures

COVID-19: Two years after vaccination flag-off, Abuja residents still hesitant

January 24, 2023
COVID-19 vaccination [PHOTO CREDIT: WHO]

How Nigerian states, regions fare in COVID-19 vaccination

January 15, 2023
From left: Gov. Buni, Commissioner Health, Dr. Lawan Gana, Executive Sec. Yobe Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr. Kundi Machina at the Gwange PHC interacting with nurses during the commissi

Yobe rebuilding primary healthcare centres after Boko Haram carnage

January 1, 2023
Female scavengers digging earth for metal scraps

Inside the world of Lagos women scavengers

January 1, 2023
President Muhammadu Buhari and APC Presidential aspirant Bola Tinubu (Photo Credit: Tinubu's Facebook)

BBC Interview: “I am different” – Tinubu walking on eggshells on Buhari’s performance

December 11, 2022
Read All Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Digital Store
  • Home
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Gender
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria