Emelda Chukwu

Biography

Dr. Chukwu is an experienced Medical Microbiologist and Senior Research scientist with over a decades’ experience conducting quantitative and qualitative research on Infectious Diseases epidemiology and genetic basis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) specifically in respiratory and diarrhoea diseases including antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies. Her academic journey includes acquiring a Master’s degree and Doctoral degree in Medical Microbiology from the University of Lagos, from 2012 to 2017 and a Postdoc in Evidence-based policy making at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Universität Bielefeld in 2023. She is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, trinity University, Lagos, Nigeria where she has impacted knowledge and skills in Medical Microbiology on the undergraduate and post-graduate students, several of whom have gone on to pursue their chosen field of science.

She has made substantial contributions to understanding microbial diversity, distribution, and transmission dynamics of AMR through a One-Health approach. She leads a team of multidisciplinary researchers with shared interest in seeking ways to mitigate the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance. She is involved in key national and regional projects including the national mass administration of Azithromycin to children under the age of five in Nigeria (SARMAAN project), Vaccines to Control Respiratory Pathogens & AMR across Africa (VacAMR), Laboratory-based survey of AMR burden in Lagos State and wastewater monitoring as an early warning tool for detection of outbreak prone pathogens and AMR, among others. Her extensive work on infectious Diseases and AMR has resulted in numerous publications, international recognitions and awards including Nobert Elias fellowship (University of Bielefeld, Germany), Institut Merieux young investigator award, Fleming fund certified AMR surveillance professional designation and selection as an Africa Academy of Science (AAS) Affiliate Fellow and Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) member for her significant contribution in tackling the problem of AMR through surveillance, improving antimicrobial stewardship and developing innovative tools to track antibiotic use. She is also interested in Health-policy advocacy and the use of evidence in health policy making, understanding/managing the conflicts/disagreements at the science-policy interphase and getting research into policy and practice. She is an advocate of SDGs 3,5,6,13&17 and have been actively involved in advocating for and encouraging the girl-child to pursue career in STEM

Awards