Research Administration is Key to Effective Research in KNUST

With several years of experience in research, Professor Francis Agyemang Yeboah (Dr. FAY) is of the view that, research administration is key to effective research. He recounts several instances where he faced cumbersome bureaucratic processes in accessing grants for his research work. This often delays research activities and puts a lot of stress on the researcher. He therefore lauded the establishment of the office of Grants and Research (OGR) to support research activities in the University. He opined that, with the existence of the OGR, researchers would have a shoulder to lean on when it comes to getting administrative support to administer their research projects. He suggested to the University Administration to give the OGR the necessary support to deliver on its mandate.

Prof. Agyeman Yeboah also believes that, research administrators play a key role in sourcing for grants and administering it. All efforts must therefore be made to strengthen the OGR with adequate personnel for the job. He also emphasized the need to set up satellite offices of the OGR at the College level to make the office more accessible to lecturers/ researchers.  He cited an example from the University of Nottingham Medical School where research administrators were very resourceful in the efficient management of grants and research funds thereby avoiding waste in the system. He also believes that the existence of research administration in the University will help boost the confidence of researchers since they will be guided at every stage of their research project. The University would also be rated highly in international circles.

Professor Francis Agyemang -Yeboah holds a PhD from the University of London (UK), an M.Sc from University of Nottingham (UK), B.Sc (Hons) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, LL.B, B.L Ghana School of Law. He is a qualified Chemical Pathologist by profession. Between 1995 and 2001, he served as an Honorary Visiting research fellow at Kings College School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of London, UK. He later became a Consultant to Ghana AIDS Commission on Nutritional Intervention to People Living with HIV/AIDS from 2000 to 2006. During this period, he also worked as a lecturer and Consultant Chemical Pathologist at the KNUST/ School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi.  He is currently the Head of Molecular Medicine at the SMS, KNUST.

His research projects include: Biochemical markers of disease states, genotypes and indices of cancers viz; Burkitts Lymphoma, Cervical Cancers; Human Papiloma virus (HPV), Herpes, Genetic Mutational Patterns of Breast Carcinomas; Adipokines and oxidative stress in health and diseases; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Resistin, Adiponectin and Leptin; Medico-Legal Issues in Health Care Delivery.