Professor Christian Obirikorang has been elected Vice-Dean of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST).
Prof. Obirikorang secured 60 votes, representing 63.16 per cent of the valid votes cast, in elections conducted by the College of Health Sciences through the University's Electronic/Email Voting System on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
A Professor of Chemical Pathology in KNUST's Department of Molecular Medicine, Prof. Obirikorang has served as Head of the Department since 2021. He is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research Group at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR).
His academic journey at KNUST began with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Technology, specialising in Chemical Pathology, which he completed in 2003. He later earned a PhD in Chemical Pathology from the University in 2010 through the KNUST Vice-Chancellor's Staff Development GETFund Scholarship.
Prof. Obirikorang joined the Department of Molecular Medicine as a lecturer in 2011 and rose through the academic ranks, becoming Senior Lecturer in 2016, Associate Professor in 2021 and subsequently Professor. In 2022, he obtained a certificate in Instructional Design and Performance Improvement from Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.
His research focuses on single nucleotide polymorphisms—genetic variations that influence susceptibility to diseases and responses to treatment—particularly in relation to HIV, Hepatitis B and Type 2 Diabetes. His work contributes to the advancement of personalised medicine by supporting disease prevention and treatment strategies tailored to individual genetic profiles.
Beyond genetics, his research interests include clinical chemistry, immunology, molecular biology, oxidative stress, metabolic disorders and lifestyle-related diseases.
Prof. Obirikorang has published extensively, with more than 1,700 citations, a Google Scholar h-index of 25 and an i10-index of 40. He was a Fellow of the University of Michigan African Scholars Programme from 2014 to 2015, where he received advanced training in human genetics and molecular medicine. He is also affiliated with the VALIDATE Network, an international consortium supporting vaccine development for complex intracellular and neglected pathogens.
As Vice-Dean, Prof. Obirikorang will support the Dean in providing leadership in academic programmes, research, postgraduate education, faculty development and strategic partnerships within the School of Medical Sciences.
In accordance with the University's Statutes, his appointment is subject to approval by the University Council on the recommendation of the Academic Board, after which he will serve a one-year term.
