Two months in Ghana (summer 2025)
A report by Amith Schulz, BSc student in the Frischknecht Lab
In the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to visit the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) in Accra, Ghana, as part of a collaborative initiative of the Centre for Infectious Diseases at Heidelberg University Hospital. Since its founding in 2013, WACCBIP has grown into a key institute in West Africa’s response to major infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV. With a mission to bring together researchers from across the African continent, it now stands at the forefront of biomedical research and training in the region. WACCBIPs malaria research consists of multiple groups focus on parasite biology, drug resistances and vector dynamics. Additionally, the institute’s location within a malaria-endemic area provides key advantages such as access to fresh Plasmodium falciparumisolates, close proximity to patient care, and robust infrastructure for field trials. This enables diagnostics, drugs, and vector-control tools to be evaluated under epidemiological conditions.
For many years, Prof. Freddy Frischknecht has supported researchand teaching activities at WACCBIP, with the goal of strengthening collaborations and advancing expertise in microscopy and parasite imaging. Fresh from Heidelberg’s bachelor program and after training at the Infectious Disease Imaging Platform (IDIP) under the guidance of Dr. Severina Klaus, I had the chance to contribute to this partnership. I spent eight weeks at the institute, connecting with researchers, working with clinical P. falciparumisolates, and teaching an introductory course on confocal microscopy. WACCBIP hosts an impressive imaging facility, including a well-maintained confocal microscope (LSM800 Airyscan by ZEISS). The course I delivered focused on hands-on microscopy training and discussed different imaging-based approaches in infectious disease research. In total, 45 graduate students across diverse research areas participated, contributing to the success of the course with their motivation, curiosity and personal experience. Overall, I enjoyed my interactions and discussions across research groups as well as with other visiting scientists which were insightful and gave me the opportunity to experience new perspectives on malaria research.
The visit underscored the potential for deepening collaboration in microscopy-based approaches and the characterization of clinical isolates. Additionally, these scientific exchanges take place within a broader context: the rapid rise of biotech capacity across Africa, with growing infrastructure, and expanding innovation ecosystems. Ultimately, the progress we make against malaria will depend on collaborative efforts built on mutual respect, shared expertise, and long-term commitment. I am grateful for being a part of this collaboration and want to thank Prof. Freddy Frischknecht for enabling this research visit as well as Prof. Gordon Awandare, Dr. Mensah-Brown, and the entire team at WACCBIP for welcoming me to their Institute. I hope to be back again soon!
