Microbiome profiling of non-healing filarial lymphedema wounds in Ghana. - Project Summary/Abstract
This proposal presents a five-year research career development program focused on
advancing the field of microbiome in non-healing filarial lymphedema wounds in Ghana.
Lymphatic filariasis (LF), often referred to as 'hidden hunger,' is one such condition that
demands our immediate attention and unwavering commitment. In the shadows of global
health priorities, LF has quietly spread its roots across 72 countries, ensnaring over 120 million
lives, primarily in regions where healthcare resources are scarce. This is even more dire
among individuals with late-stage presentations such as lymphedema. Focused on addressing
the challenges posed by empirical treatment approach in managing infection-related LF
complications such as chronic non-healing filarial wounds, increasing prevalence of antibiotic-
resistant strains, we seek to pursue molecular-focused research with the opportunities that
this comprehensive career development program provides. Leveraging advanced
technologies and the QIIME 2 platform, the project seeks to identify unique microbial
signatures in lymphedema wounds and resistance patterns, contributing to improved
healthcare outcomes in LMICs. This is aimed at understanding the dynamics of bacterial and
fungal communities, exploring the interrelationship between the microbial profiles and the
clinical outcomes, establishing a LF-specific genomic library, and developing predictive
algorithms for monitoring wound healing progression in LF patients. Understanding for
instance, the microbial dynamics of LF-related infective complications will challenge the
current research and clinical practice paradigms as it will pave the way for more definitive
healthcare strategies that will mark a significant departure from empirical treatments, offering
the advantage of evidence-based, targeted interventions. This project will help generate
substantial dataset that will guide the development of relevant policies and guidelines that will
encourage the policy implementation such as antibiotic stewardship practices and evidence-
based management thereby optimizing patient outcomes. Again, as part of the approaches
toward achieving the program's goals, this career development research project also focuses
on enhancing leadership skills, strengthening research capacity through mentorship, and
collaboration to drive impactful research outcomes and contribute to the improvement of
healthcare practices among filarial lymphedema patients in LMICs.
