Published May 1, 2026
ARA-W Faculty Mentor, Professor Dorothy Yeboah‑Manu Appointed Director of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research - 2021
By MyJoyOnline
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has appointed Professor Dorothy Yeboah‑Manu as the new Director of the Institute.
Professor Yeboah‑Manu makes history as the first female Director of NMIMR. She officially assumes office following the retirement of Professor Abraham Kwabena Anang, who stepped down on July 31, 2021.
Prior to her appointment, Professor Yeboah‑Manu served as Deputy Centre Leader at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), where she played a key role in advancing research capacity and infectious disease studies in the region.
Her academic journey began at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where she obtained a First‑Class Honours degree in Biochemistry. She furthered her studies at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, earning a Master’s degree in Applied Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases. In 2006, she completed her PhD at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
Professor Yeboah‑Manu is an esteemed member of several professional and scientific bodies, including the American Society for Microbiology, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, and the WHO Global Network of Laboratories Confirming Buruli Ulcer. She also serves as an Executive Member of the Federation of African Immunological Societies and is a Committee Member of the National Buruli Ulcer Control Programme.
Additionally, she is the Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the National Tuberculosis Control Program and a Board Member of the African Research Academies for Women, contributing actively to research leadership and policy advancement across the continent.
In recognition of her outstanding scientific contributions, Professor Yeboah‑Manu was awarded the Royal Society Africa Prize in 2018. The award acknowledged her innovative research approaches to understanding Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium africanum, integrating microbiology, genetics, and epidemiology to address critical public health challenges.
Her appointment marks a significant milestone for NMIMR and underscores the Institute’s commitment to scientific excellence, leadership diversity, and impactful health research.