Former Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, has underscored the need for Africa to translate its growing scientific output into tangible healthcare solutions capable of transforming lives across the continent.
Speaking at the KNUST Research Week and Scientific Conference themed “Empowering Researchers to Achieve Impactful Outcomes”, Prof. Owusu-Dabo noted that while Africa’s contributions to biomedical research continue to expand with notable advances in vaccine development, clinical trials, and public health innovation many discoveries still struggle to make the leap from laboratory to local communities.
“To close this discovery-to-delivery gap, countries must strengthen translational research, invest in primary care and digital health, and promote collaboration across sectors,” he said.
He further emphasized that sustainable progress requires equity and community participation. According to him, “Strong leadership, open science, and local innovation are key to helping Africa move from being a consumer to a creator of sustainable, home-grown health solutions.”
Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Christian Agyare, reaffirmed KNUST’s commitment to producing research that extends beyond academic citations to address real-world challenges.
He said that as one of Ghana’s leading research institutions, KNUST’s goal is to nurture a new generation of scholars whose work informs national policy, strengthens healthcare systems, and enhances livelihoods.
“At KNUST, our focus is not only on academic recognition but on generating research outcomes that directly improve lives,” Prof. Agyare said. “We aim to foster an environment where research becomes a tool for social and economic transformation.”
He described the conference as an important platform for reflection and collaboration, encouraging researchers to pursue studies that bridge innovation and implementation.
Director of the School of Graduate Studies, Professor Michael Opoku-Boansi, outlined several initiatives aimed at strengthening the quality, visibility, and impact of postgraduate research at KNUST.
Among these reforms is a new publication policy that will take effect from the 2025/2026 academic year, requiring all graduate students to publish from their theses before graduation two papers for PhD candidates and one for MPhil students.
The School is also enhancing the visibility of postgraduate work through the Book of Doctoral Abstracts and the Doctoral Dialogue Series, both designed to promote knowledge sharing and highlight research outcomes.
Selected student presentations will also be aired on TEK TV and official social media handles of the university to increase public engagement with university research.
Prof. Boansi further revealed that the School is developing a standard commercialization template to help students translate their findings into market-ready innovations that directly support national development.
“We want to move beyond theory to practical solutions that have measurable impact,” he said. “These initiatives will ensure that every graduate research output contributes meaningfully to Ghana’s growth story.”
