University of Ghana Scientist honoured internationally for neglected disease research
A Ghanaian scientist and University of Ghana professor, Lydia Mosi, has gained international recognition for her decades-long research into Buruli ulcer and other neglected tropical diseases, earning a prestigious lifetime achievement award from Spain’s Anesvad Foundation.
Prof. Mosi, an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, was honoured at the foundation’s 11th annual awards ceremony held on Thursday.
The awards celebrate individuals and organisations working to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect over one billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
She was recognised for her extensive contributions to research on NTDs, particularly Buruli ulcer, a severe skin disease that remains widespread in parts of West Africa.
Organisers noted that Prof. Mosi has published more than 50 influential scientific papers, contributed to policy discussions, and helped secure over $20 million in research funding throughout her career.
The award also comes with a €15,000 grant to support her ongoing research work.
In her acceptance remarks, Prof. Mosi described how her research journey began during her undergraduate studies after encountering a Buruli ulcer patient for the first time.
“I started this journey out of curiosity as an undergraduate student when I saw my first Buruli ulcer patient with a huge lesion that was painless,” she said.
She described the recognition as deeply meaningful, noting that neglected tropical diseases represent not only medical challenges but also long-standing social neglect.
“These conditions reflect a deeper neglect—not just of diseases, but of the people affected by them,” she said.
Prof. Mosi dedicated the award to her late mother, crediting her encouragement and belief in her academic potential.
She also highlighted the broader impact of neglected tropical skin diseases, stressing that they affect education, employment, mental health, and social inclusion.
“Behind every statistic is a child excluded from school, a parent unable to work, or an individual facing stigma and isolation,” she noted.
She urged young African scientists to challenge indifference toward neglected diseases and strengthen local research leadership across the continent.
“The next generation of scientists must challenge indifference, strengthen local leadership, and ensure that no disease and no person is considered too neglected to matter,” she added.
Ghana also featured at the ceremony as Ark Development Organisation received an award for its work addressing environmental, social, and economic factors linked to skin-related neglected tropical diseases.
The organisation was praised for integrating mental health support and stigma reduction into its health interventions, with director Emmanuel Kwafo Mintah accepting the award on its behalf.
Ethiopia’s National Podoconiosis Action Network was also honoured for its advocacy efforts aimed at influencing public policy on skin-related neglected tropical diseases.
The Anesvad Foundation noted that this year’s ceremony coincided with the launch of the Spanish Coalition against Neglected Tropical Diseases, a platform uniting institutions involved in research, healthcare, and development cooperation.
Since its inception in 2015, the foundation has supported 48 projects across more than 12 African countries, providing total funding of about €865,000.
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