Gordon Awandare PhD

Gordon Awandare is a Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and Founding Director of the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana, Legon. He is responsible for the scientific, administrative and financial management of the Centre.
Gordon earned a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ghana, and a PhD in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in the USA, after which he completed his postdoctoral training at the Walter Reed Army Institute for Research in Maryland, USA.
In 2014, he spearheaded the winning pitch for a World Bank African Centres of Excellence grant, which led to the establishment of WACCBIP, and has since led several successful grant applications, including the African Academy of Sciences/Wellcome Trust DELTAS Africa grant, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Centre. Since 2015, WACCBIP has provided fellowships to more than 200 young African scientists for Master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral training.
His research interest is in the red cell invasion mechanisms of Plasmodium falciparum and the pathogenesis of malaria in children. He also studies genomic variation in P. falciparum isolates across transmission areas.
Gordon’s professional achievements include his role in the discovery of complement receptor 1 (CR1) as a protein used by P. falciparum to invade red blood cells. He has received several awards including the University of Ghana’s Distinguished Award for Meritorious Service in 2013, and the 2015 Royal Society Pfizer award for his achievements in molecular and cellular studies of malaria.