Meet our Ambassadors 597 – …

Mohit Kumar is an Assistant Professor at Hindu College, University of Delhi, India. Mohit is working in the field of antibiotic resistance as Researcher and also teaching the graduate students at Hindu College, University of Delhi. Mohit has a good academic background and publications in reputed journals. He is willing to work with you to learn and spread the message of antibiotic resistance in the society to tackle this global problem.

Charity Wiafe Akenten is a microbiologist at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine in Ghana. Charity is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, project coordinator, and a microbiologist at the Kumasi center for collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine. Her interest in research includes antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. She is currently working the on the carriage of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) in E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in diarrhea children and domestic farm animals. As part of the surveillance system, she is also working on the characterization of Acinetobacter spp. isolated from the blood and urine of patients in rural Ghana.

Saugata Hazra is currently designated in the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, IIT-Roorkee, India. Saugata has a group working on combating Antimicrobial Resistance. An alumnus from IIT-Kharagpur, he was awarded a PhD from the University of Illinois Chicago, USA. After that, he gathered his postdoctoral experiences from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, and AECOM, New York, USA. His areas of research interest are Structural Biology, Protein Engineering, Structure-based drug development, Biophysical and biochemical studies, nano-particle synthesis and formulation, and computational dynamics of biological macromolecules. Without anti-microbials combating deadly pathogens we would be beyond our control leading to a situation called “diagnosis for death”. A major goal of his lab is to study enzymes that play a critical role in emergence of antimicrobial resistance. They are taking an interdisciplinary approach to understand the catalytic divergence of enzymes involving peptidoglycan synthesis, folate biosynthesis pathway, etc. towards the development of diagnostics and therapeutics utilizing our above-mentioned understandings.

Pooja Padmakumar is a PhD student at Bangor University, United Kingdom. Pooja is specializing in monitoring antifungal resistance in wastewater systems and developing surveillance strategies. Her research is centered around investigating host-fungal interactions and understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mechanisms. Pooja holds a master’s degree in Molecular Medicine and is deeply passionate about researching antifungal therapeutics targeting multidrug-resistant fungi.

Omera Naseer is a Senior scientist working in the National AMR &IPC Program at the National Institute of Health, Pakistan. Omera is a medical doctor with FCPS (Community Medicine), M.Sc. Community Health and Nutrition and a Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition.She has more than 14 years of working experience in Public and Private sector at Primary and Tertiary Health care levels in Pakistan as well as in National Research an academic institutes. Since the last four years she is working at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Pakistan in different capacities. Currently she is working as the Senior scientist in the National AMR&IPC program at NIH. Her core responsibilities include coordination for implementation of activities of National Action Plan (NAP-AMR), assessment of laboratory capacity on AMR, development of capacity strengthening plans in consultation with in-country stakeholders to develop and implement AMR surveillance and strategic plans, and to maintain close liaison among partners i.e. Ministry of Health, Food Security, International donors (WHO, CDC, UKHSA) & align our work plan with them.

Fabian  Achangwi is a Student at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences Dschang, Cameroon. Fabian is a Master’s Student and an AMR fighter in his region. He has gone as far as creating an AMR defense group in his Faculty. He has been involved in several campaigns and workshops based on proper use of antibiotics. His current study is on study of genes of resistance in people exploiting hospital exposed waste. His fight against AMR is in line with human environmental interaction through the one health approach. He is determined in fighting Antimicrobial Resistance with he’s got and to reduce it prevalence in next few years.

Akihiro Koech is a Biochemist at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kenya. Akihiro is a fourth-year biochemistry student, delved into the fascinating realm of bacteriophages during an enriching internship at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research. His passion for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and advocating against antibiotic misuse unfolded as he actively engaged in social media and contributed to WAAW 2023. Akihiro’s research endeavors now center around combating multi-drug resistant bacteria, particularly the WHO-classified ESKAPEE pathogens. Venturing beyond conventional methods, he diligently isolates therapeutic phages from sewage samples, striving to raise awareness about AMR within his community. Akihiro’s mission goes beyond academia, aiming to safeguard the collective well-being from the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.

Obed Kwabena Offe Amponsah is a Researcher, Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation Co-lead at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Obed is a pharmacist by training whose PhD study focused on antimicrobial stewardship implementation in hospitals in Ghana. He currently co-leads the implementation of Antimicrobial stewardship at the University Hospital of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is passionate about the impact of stewardship with infection prevention and control to mitigate the problem of antimicrobial resistance in low-resource settings. He has consulted on the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in various hospitals in Ghana, in addition to serving as a subject matter expert in stewardship implementation in the Project Echo TEACH AMS project of the Ministry of Health in Ghana and the University of New Mexico

Fath e din Hameed is a Veterinary Student at the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences – UVAS, Lahore, Pakistan. He has a strong passion for veterinary medicine, is actively involved in various veterinary societies, and dedicated to expanding his knowledge and contributing to the field. As a part-time tutor for metric and intermediate students, he recognizes the importance of education in promoting responsible practices. His focus is on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and he is eager to delve into insights surrounding this global challenge. His aim is to leverage his academic background, practical experiences, and teaching role to actively participate in initiatives addressing AMR while fostering collaborations with like-minded individuals. He wants to work together towards a sustainable future in veterinary medicine.

Jamal Mahmood is a Veterinary student at UVAS Lahore in Pakistan. He is passionate about addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drawing inspiration from dedicated individuals like ambassadors at AMR Insights. He is committed to driving positive change in global health. Eager to contribute, he seeks to raise awareness on responsible antibiotic use and promote collaboration among professionals. Excited about the opportunity to be an ambassador for AMR Insights, he aims to contribute to a healthier future.

Sami Ullah Mumtaz is an Assistant Professor Medicine at King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Sami is a graduate of King Edward Medical University Lahore Pakistan. He did a Fellowship in Medicine from college of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan. Sami is a member of Royal college of physicians and surgeons Glasgow. He also completed his diploma in Diabetes from UK. Sami is Secretary coordination Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM). He has been awarded best House Physician & Best Resident awards and currently is working as Assistant Professor of Medicine from 2018. Sami has been involved in the management of Dengue fever & COVID19 patients and is the focal person of the unit. Sami has been the active participant of community welfare especially earthquake relief operations. Sami has a keen interest in research and is committed to work for antimicrobial resistance.

Jehan Zeb Khan is a Lead Clinical Pharmacist at the Medical Teaching Institute-Hayatabad Medical Complex in Pakistan. Jehann is a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy with specific interests in optimal antimicrobial therapy, surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, and educating healthcare professionals in understanding the impact and magnitude of antimicrobial resistance in clinical practice. Furthermore, Jehan is working on policy matters in curbing AMR at national, regional and global level.

Dreck Ayebare is an AMR Research fellow at the International Livestock Research Institute, Uganda. Dreck is a research fellow under the CGIAR AMR Hub hosted by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). He coordinates AMR research and development activities in Uganda. Dreck has been involved in numerous studies investigating antimicrobial resistance and use in livestock systems, humans and the environment using a One health approach. He is passionate about designing sustainable interventions for AMR prevention and control in LMICs.

Raman Muthusamy is a Research Professor of Microbiology, Center for Global Health Research , Saveetha Medical College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, India. Raman is one of the leading One health & AMR expert in South India serving at the Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, SIMATS, Chennai working on Antimicrobial Stewardship programs as well on AMR in Human-Animal-Environment Interface. He is organizing programs on Anti-microbial Awareness, Food safety for stakeholders. As part of the UKRI GCRF One Health hub and a NIH-NIAID TMRC grant as One health Consultant, he has vast research experience on transmission dynamics of food borne pathogens in commercial poultry and zoonotic helminths in communities in Southern & Northeast India. Raman, a veterinarian trained at the Madras Veterinary College, part of SE Asia first vet university-TANUVAS (www.tanuvas.ac.in) has translational research expertise on vet diagnostics and vaccine development leading to 23 prototypes and commercializing 4 technologies. He has 190 peer reviewed publications, 2 patents, 15 books and has networks with researchers from Global South and North.

Somia Iqtadar is Associate Professor Medicine / Sec General Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine at the King Edward medical University / Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine, Pakistan. Somia is a committed clinician, academician, researcher and a dedicated professional in the field of internal medicine. As a practicing clinician, she frequently encounters complicated difficult-to-treat cases of patients infected with resistant strains of microorganisms. Somia wanted to explore more advanced and up to date approaches in tackling widespread antibiotic resistance, so did a few training courses on Rationale use of Medicine by Health care professionals in South and South East Asian countries offered by Kunming University China. Somia was awarded a Charles Wallace Fellowship with attachment at INEOS Oxford institute of AMR research at Oxford University UK under supervision of Prof. Christopher J. Schofield and prof Timothy Walsh in the year 2023.This opportunity facilitated her to establish professional networking with her international peers and also widened her professional skills. Somia has delivered multiple talks on national and international fora on AMR and public awareness sessions on print electronic and social media.

SIta Ratna Devi Duddi is the Director at the Patient Academy for Innovation and Research, India. Slta is the CEO and Co-founder of DakshamA Health and Education, Director Patient Academy for Innovation and Research. She leads a cross disease Patient Alliance in India called Indian Alliance of Patient Groups (IAPG) and is the Chair ISPOR Patient Council, Immediate past Chair of Board, IAPO (International Alliance of Patient Organisations, Board member HIA (Healthy India Alliance – the National NCD Alliance in India) and APARDO (Asia Pacific Alliance of Rare Disease Organisations). She holds an MBBS degree from Sambalpur University and a dual MBA from SYMBIOSIS and Manipal Institute of Distance Education. Her work spans across policy initiatives for NCDs, Rare diseases and Patient safety, focusing on changing the way healthcare is perceived and delivered in the region and globally, bringing in best practices and patient perspectives for designing, implementing and measuring health outcomes.