• Following a cohort of HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy and Ghana and estimating their viral loads regularly 
• Evaluating the knowledge and attitude of patients in Ghana towards participation in HIV cure research  
• Screening a library of chemical compound and herbal extracts for activity to reactivate HIV from latency in vitro 
• Screening a collection of chemical compounds and herbal extracts for activity to inhibit HIV replication in vitro 

Other research projects 

• Monitoring antiretroviral resistance in different categories of HIV patients 
• Investigating the role of immunological markers on HIV infection, latency and disease progression 
• Assessing the impact of non-communicable diseases on HIV patients in Ghana  
• Impact of COVID on HIV management in Ghana 
• Effect of TB co-infection on HIV management in Ghana 
• Assessing cancers among HIV patients 
• Drug discovery for SARS-COV-2, HIV and other viruses 

Accomplishments of the EDCTP grant (TMA2017SF – 1955)

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Senior Fellowship Grant, awarded to Professor George Boateng Kyei of Virology Department of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research,  the University of Ghana, has significantly advanced the search for an HIV cure while strengthening research capacity in Ghana and the wider African region. With HIV remaining a major public health concern in Africa, this project focused on addressing one of the key challenges in curing HIV— the persistence of the virus in a latent form within resting CD4+ T cells, even in people virally suppressed on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The project explored the “shock and kill” approach, to reactivate latent HIV and target infected cells for destruction by on therapy. A key scientific accomplishment of the project was the in vitro identification and  ex-vivo  confirmation of three novel epigenetic compounds with potential to reactivate latent HIVfrom cells obtained from virologically suppressed individuals. This results open the door to further  studies in animal models and, eventually, in clinical trials. The establishment of a drug screening platform at the University of Ghana made these findings possible and now serves as a long-term asset for HIV drug discovery and cure research.

Beyond laboratory success, the project implemented regular viral load monitoring in a large cohort of patients—something not routinely done in Ghana. This generated critical data on virologic suppression and patient response to therapy, helping to shape national HIV treatment policies. The study also established a biobank and a well-characterized cohort of HIV-infected adults, which will serve as an invaluable resource for future HIV cure research. Furthermore, data on patients’ perceptions on HIV cure research was gathered to inform how future HIV cure studies should be designed and conducted in Ghana and in Africa.

The project has had a substantial impact on research training and career development. It supported the growth of junior scientists in various categories and these have excelled.

Postdoctoral fellows, have developed into independent research leaders, won competitive grants and fellowships (such as IAS Research-for-Cure Academy, Banga-Africa Seed and Teams grants, EDCTP-AREF and NIH R21) and presented their work in international conferences like Africa Virology Congress, The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), Keystone symposium and IAS.. They also secured travel awards funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to attend the 2025 Keystone Symposium in South Africa, Recently, the postdocs received fellowships from international programs such as the Science by Women Fellowship from Fundación Mujeres por África and the NIH CFAR Africure award, which will both commence in 2025. The postdoctoral fellows got the International AIDS Society (IAS) Fellowship to attend the in South Africa in 2019 and 2024.

The PhD student received prestigious fellowships including the International AIDS Society (IAS) Research-for-Cure Academy fellowship. He also had sponsorship for research visits to Washington University in St. Louis.

The master’s students successfully completed his programme and gained admission to the Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine. He was awarded full scholarship for his studies.

The PI, Prof. Kyei, received special recognition in April 2024 from the University of Ghana’s Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) for his outstanding mentorship of female academics, an honor made more meaningful by nominations from his own postdoctoral mentees. His leadership was further affirmed when one of the postdocs won Best Senior Research Fellow at the 2024 Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) Awards. Additionally, two research assistants on the project earned best presenter awards at the 2024 African Virologist Conference in Abuja.

The impact of this EDCTP Senior fellowship grant has extended beyond its original scope. It laid the groundwork for additional funded projects, including a newly awarded D43 NIH/Fogarty grant to support HIV basic science and cure research training at the University of Ghana, to train 17 people within 5 years.  The PI was also awarded funding by Expertise France, L’initiative  to implement cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV in Ghana. These  accomplishments would not have been achievable without the foundation built by the EDCTP grant.

Looking ahead, the team will  expand research into HIV reservoir characteristics in virologically suppressed patients across all regions of Ghana. This extension will continue the momentum generated by the grant, reinforcing Ghana’s position as a leader in HIV cure research in Africa and supporting the global effort to find an HIV cure.