Vaginal Microbiota and Cervical Cancer Risk in Women - Prof. Samuel Essien-Baidoo

Prof. Samuel Essien-Baidoo is an Associate Professor in Laboratory Medicine at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and a Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science. His research is dedicated to exploring the intricate interplay between natural and artificial determinants of adverse health outcomes, particularly in the context of infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Away from research, Prof. Essien-Baidoo has a wealth of administrative experience, having served as the founding Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science and held many other positions at UCC, Ghana. He has also shown deep commitment to community service and mentorship by supporting and guiding student volunteers engaged in various initiatives, spanning livelihood empowerment, environmental sanitation, and reproductive health.

In this episode, Prof. Essien-Baidoo shares highlights of his research exploring the link between vaginal microbes, the immune system, and the onset of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Ghanaian women. Findings from this study will inform cervical cancer screening and management in at-risk women.

Connect with him/learn more about his work here and across ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠, ⁠and ⁠⁠ResearchGate⁠⁠.

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00:00 - intro 01:20 - overview of academic and research journey 05:11 - findings from PhD research 07:44 - growing up and developing interest in immunology, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases 11:48 - highlights of research on vaginal microbiota and cervical cancer risk (findings, implications, next steps, etc.) 27:28 - interest and work in health and research ethics 33:30 - challenges and how he's dealt with them 42:18 - updates from IUIS Cape Town 2023 46:10 - final words 49:00 - outro