My name is Nnaemeka Emmanuel Nnadi. I am a medical Microbiologist My passion lies in deciphering how this changing climate fosters the emergence of novel and more formidable pathogens, posing a grave risk to human lives. Employing state-of-the-art technologies, I embark on a journey to uncover the intricate molecular evolution mechanisms driving the transformation of these pathogens, all while embracing the powerful one-health framework. My research delves deep into the complex web of interactions within microbial communities, with a sharp focus on their evolutionary trajectories. I wholeheartedly support the hypothesis that climate change is a catalyst for the birth of unprecedented pathogens, poised to threaten not only humans but also animals and plants alike
emmannaemeka
Another idea we are exploring is to sample wastewater in military barracks. Since our military go to several countries for various interventions. They represent an important group too in the process. However, optimization of metagenomics processes and cost is critical.
TLDR:
I am a faculty member at Plateau State University, Nigeria, operating a charity laboratory focused on phage research for combating antimicrobial resistance. With a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology, I offer a real-life perspective from resource-limited settings. Seeking a remote or hybrid part-time position in global health, particularly interested in infectious disease mitigation. Ready to start within the next few months.
Skills & Background:
Current faculty at Plateau State University, Nigeria
Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology
Expertise in working in resource-limited settings and rural communities
Location/Remote: Open to remote or hybrid positions
Availability & Type of Work: Seeking part-time position .Available to start in the next few months
Resume/CV/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nnaemeka-emmanuel-nnadi-a39298b5/
Email: eennadi@gmail.com
How the centre for Phage biology and therapeutics would use more funding.
At Centre for Phage Biology and Therapeutics, our purpose is to maximise positive impact and make a real difference in world health. We are currently leading the effort to establish a large phage biobank in Nigeria, which is a vital step in pandemic preparedness. Phages have enormous promise, from vaccine manufacture to fighting drug-resistant bacteria, and our programme is set to make important contributions in these areas.
To further our effect, we need 20,000 USD to install a solar energy system that will provide sustainable and efficient power to our −80 Freezers. This not only secures the viability of our phage preservation efforts but also aligns with the ethos of effective altruism by optimizing resource allocation for maximum positive outcomes.
Your support will not only advance phage technology but also contribute to a safer, healthier world.
If you wish to know more, feel free to reach out to us via eennadi@plasu.edu.ng
What an extraordinary idea! I’m connecting with you from Jos, Nigeria. Presently, we’re facing a shortage of electricity. For the last few days, we’ve only had electricity available from 12 am to 5:30 am daily. It’s challenging for many to grasp the importance of a solar power system in such a situation. The energy costs here are unfavourable as well, negatively impacting research endeavours. I had previously hoped to acquire solar energy to fuel my laboratory, but financial constraints stood in the way. I applaud this initiative; it has the potential to breathe new life into our rural community.
Thanks Jeff for the reply. I had written on climate change and emerging pathogens earlier. Here is the link to a thought I had earlier
Hi Jeff, thanks for your response. I hold a PhD in Medical Microbiology and am a lecturer in the Department of Microbiology, at Plateau State University, Bokkos, Nigeria. My passion lies in deciphering how this changing climate fosters the emergence of novel and more formidable pathogens, posing a grave risk to human lives. I believe that climate change will make us more vulnerable to pathogens like fungi, however, I am realising that ” natural pandemics” may not be an existential risk based on Toby Ord’s opinion in “The Precipice”. Do you think funders will be willing to fund research focused on looking at how climate change will lead to the evolution of pathogens leading to “natural” pandemics?
Jeff, your transition from a professional programmer with over a decade of experience in ads and web performance to a career in biosecurity is quite fascinating. Can you share what motivated or inspired you to make this significant switch in your career path? Additionally, do you believe that your impact on addressing global health threats is more substantial compared to your previous career, and what are the key differences you’ve noticed in terms of the impact you can make? Lastly, I hold a PhD in Medical Microbiologist considering switching my research career to biosecurity. What sincere advice or insights would you offer a person like me who is considering a switch to biosecurity this time as a researcher, based on your own experiences and observations in your new role? A Major hurdle has been securing funding, impact for a researcher comes with increased funding. As someone who has funded research, what attracts you to a project to fund?
Thank you, Nick, for your thoughtful feedback. Perhaps in the future, event organizers could clearly specify the preferred “article format” and the criteria for evaluation. This would help eliminate biases and promote transparency. When writers are asked to contribute without clear guidelines, but there are hidden expectations for a specific format, it can be demoralizing. Participating in future competitions may lose its appeal under such circumstances.
To ensure objectivity, consider implementing an open voting system in the future. This approach can foster fairness and impartiality in the selection process.
This is all the more important because of the judgment criteria earlier set out
Posts will be judged based on the following rubric:
Originality of insight Clarity Discussion provoked: (judged by the post’s forum score and number of comments) Persuasiveness of argument This is replaced by Relevance to forum readers for summaries of existing work
Looking at the above in the context of
“ I think it’s notable that it is not always the highest karma post that won within each category. We didn’t want to anchor too much to reception by forum readers, and to reward posts that were outside the typical forum style (still requiring that a post be original, clear, discussion-provoking, and persuasive or relevant to the forum)”
You can tell that unexplained rules and changing rules mid way would not help.
All the same, I am happy I shared my thoughts and I hope it will provoke some research and increased support in studying fungi
Congratulations to all the victors! Personally, I’ve faced challenges when it comes to competitions and applications, particularly within the Effective Altruism (EA) sphere. When it mentioned a “typical forum style,” I started doubting my ability to make an impact in the EA context because I felt I didn’t align with the ideal EA system.
As I reflect on it, it seems that EA members possess a distinct mindset, approach, and perspective. I’ve come to the realization that making a significant impact within the EA context might not be my forte.
Nevertheless, I want to express my gratitude to the organizers for providing me with the opportunity to voice my thoughts and opinions on various issues. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Being a lecturer is undoubtedly an engaging profession, but the experience in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like Nigeria presents unique challenges. Despite these hurdles, I still have the privilege of managing my time and courses.
As a senior lecturer, my monthly salary amounts to a mere $272 USD (using 900NAIRA/USD). What sets this apart is the absence of funds available for initiating research projects or establishing a lab. Consequently, the responsibility falls squarely on me to self-finance my research endeavors and publish research papers using this salary. In essence, there is little room for the concept of “earning to give” in our academic landscape. It’s an arduous journey, to say the least.
To illustrate the extent of our challenges, my university hasn’t paid us salaries for the last four months. Nonetheless, we continue to report to work and strive to conduct research. It is an exceptionally tough situation – one where you cannot simply request assistance, yet you must maintain productivity, often measured in terms of publications.
In our context, the impact of our work is often measured by the individuals we nurture and mentor. Training and guiding students to progress and contribute meaningfully to society is our primary yardstick for success. Witnessing their growth and development brings a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness.
I must admit that there have been moments of temptation to seek opportunities elsewhere, where conditions may be more favorable. However, my commitment to the cause keeps me rooted here. The challenges notwithstanding, the fulfillment derived from shaping the future of our students and our community makes it all worthwhile. I am constantly on the lookout for that elusive solution that might make our work easier.
I often wonder if there are programs or initiatives that could provide a stop-gap salary for individuals working in positions where they are owed salaries for extended periods but would prefer not to leave their jobs. I would be highly interested in applying for such support if it were available.
I agree with you on this. It is true we need awareness of the importance of this, however such sensitive topic should be carefully communicated because of bad actors that might exploit this for negative use. @DC What do you think is the line between science communication and feeding bad actors with useful information?
I think EA forum should decide on what they would define as impact in Africa. I think, they should bring together key players from Africa a path for impact.
Thanks for your comment. I agree with you fungi infection are very shocking. We breathe these pathogenic fungi everyday in the air. Azole resistant Aspergillosis is becoming a global issue in the US and around the globe. This is an important cause area.
My graduate students are working on looking for any jump.
This is really amazing! I really agree with you. I think these and many more reasons will make EA concepts not to have that deep impacts in Africa. What the west considers a problem versus what Africans considers important and relevant to us. While AI and animal safety are very important cause priority. I think EA should be very adaptive to listen to us and not tell us what they think is important. Maybe what makes this happen this way is that African’s are not contributing much financially to EA pool of funding hence the person that blows the piper calls its tone.
This is a great opportunity for people from the LMIC. Just a quick question. Would you consider a proposal focused on wastewater surveillance for an environment without a centralized wastewater collection system?
Your post is quite encouraging. I smiled while reading it when I came to this point “Yeah when we said that we need people, we meant capable people. Not you. You suck.” If people from educationally privileged countries like the US will find this difficult, what will be the fate of people like us who trained in Nigeria? Already you are educationally and positionally disadvantaged. I remember applying to 80000 hours for a one-on-one career conversation on how to make my career more impactful, I was surprised I got rejected.
Thanks Jason for reading my post and for commenting. I am encouraged by this act of kindness. Commenting encourages one to write more. If you know of funds I can apply to or will be willing to discuss further with. I will be glad to talk with them.
For example, to get a 3kva solar system here in Nigeria would cost between 5000 USD − 10000 USD. This will include the solar panel, batteries, inverter and installation.
Supplies for Post-graduate students: This depends on the project. However majorly, one thing that is lacking here is ability to sequence isolates and the bioinformatics. I would like to provide the platform for students to be able to sequence their organisms as well as learn the bioinformatics aspect.
So in terms of consumables
My lab has two Nanopore sequencers: Consumables for Nanopore sequencing includes
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Flow cells a single flow cell would cost 900 USD while a group of 12 will cost 9480
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To upgrade to p2 solo sequencing plateform will cost 11000 USD including custom clearance while the flow cell will cost 10500 USD
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Library kits barcoding kit 1000 USD(includes custom clearance charges) for 6 reactions. For upto 30 reactions that will be 5000 USD
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Qubit for quantification of DNA will cost about 5000 USD
Grants I have applied for in EA infrastructure
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I am currently waiting to get a decision on my application to purchase laptops to enable me to train students in bioinformatics.
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Once applied to setup a phage bank as well as to be able to track the spread of anti microbial resistant genes in the environment
What I will like to do:
I believe a functional phage bank will have a lot of impact in the health outcome in Nigeria. Why do I think so, I was discussing with a clinician few weeks ago, he told he about a patient he lost because in plateau state there isn’t any capacity to identify pathogens and characterize them. They treated blindly with all manner of antibiotics.
A functional phage lab should be able to identify pathogens(sequencing is the gold standard) and produce phage a for the pathogen.
I hope to be able to constantly isolate phages and store them and be able to make these phages available to the phage community in Nigeria and beyond. Phage sharing is the key to effective phage therapy. To be able to do that one needs a robust phage isolation and purification system
I once applied for grants to allow me visit the phage lab in Belgium to understudy them.
For a robust phage lab(my lab has the basic phage equipments)
We will need
Ultra filtration centrifuge 30000-50000 USD
Media and filters − 10000 USD
Freeze dryer
Lastly, I want to be able to pay students school fees
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Discovering new antibiotics takes a long time and requires huge investment. That is why the interest in phage therapy is growing.
Thanks for your comment. Yes! The recent disability-adjusted life-years projection for drug resistance just released showed a total of 4·95 million deaths associated with bacterial AMR in 2019, including 1·27 million deaths attributable to bacterial AMR. At the regional level, we estimated the all-age death rate attributable to resistance to be highest in western sub-Saharan Africa, at 27·3 deaths per 100 000 . Six pathogens contributed to the largest burden of AMR in 2019 (E coli, S aureus, K pneumoniae, S pneumoniae, A baumannii, and P aeruginosa) have been identified as priority pathogens by WHO. My goal is to isolate, characterize and have ready-for-use phage products in the store for use against these pathogens in Nigeria.
This is also important to the global community, because of the exchange of phages. For example, in Dhanvi’s story, a 7-year-old girl is scheduled for amputation as a result of drug resistance. The Australian group reached out to the global community for help with phages that is specific for the bacteria infecting Dhanvi, this was found in Israel and coincidentally had sent the phages to the US for use. The phage was used to save her legs.
The idea is an interesting one.