Published: 06 Oct 2016 Source: University Relations Office (URO)
A three-day workshop which runs from the 5th to 7th October, 2016 has formally opened. The workshop is on ‘Protein Extraction, Purification, Quantification and Isolation’ commonly called ‘Western Blot’.
Professor Tsiri Agbenyega, Provost, College of Health Sciences, in his address indicated that the Western Blot technique was invented in the 1960’s and had contributed to the advancement of modern medicine through better diagnosis and development of vaccines. The technique, according to him, allowed for the separation of proteins in a genome. He noted that the workshop was the first of its kind in Ghana and would complement and advance scientific research in Ghana. The workshop is to transfer skills and share knowledge of molecular techniques specifically the ‘Western Blot’ in the interest of advancing the frontiers of scientific research in Ghana.
The Western Blot technique is one of the techniques used at the highest level of scientific research but has not been utilised in many African universities. This workshop bridges the gap by training junior researchers and postgraduate students in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and beyond.
Dr. Mohammed Mutocheluh, coordinator of the workshop explained that the Western Blot technique was a modern technique that had advanced science. He appreciated the support of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS), KNUST, KNUST Central Lab, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogen (University of Ghana), Convention for Biomedical Research Ghana and the SMS Aflatoxins and Interferon Research Project.