William Agbozo | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | Best Research Article Award

William Agbozo, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA. United States

William Kwaku Agbozo is a passionate Ghanaian biomedical researcher specializing in molecular and cell biology, particularly in the context of hemolysis-related complications in sickle cell disease and cerebral malaria. With a strong academic foundation from the University of Ghana, he has cultivated expertise through interdisciplinary training in physiology, biochemistry, and molecular sciences. Currently serving as a Research Scholar at Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, he brings his research to life by utilizing advanced genomics and proteomics tools in both animal and human studies. His work has yielded peer-reviewed publications and international presentations, reflecting a commitment to translational science aimed at uncovering therapeutic targets. William has also made significant contributions as a lecturer at Central University, Ghana, mentoring students and guiding research projects. His career is driven by a desire to bridge clinical gaps in infectious and genetic diseases, focusing on real-world biomedical challenges in Africa and beyond.

Publication Profile

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Education

William Agbozo’s academic journey began at the University of Ghana, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (2008–2012). He continued at the same institution to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Physiology (2013–2015), equipping him with in-depth knowledge of human physiological mechanisms. Motivated by a growing interest in translational biomedical research, he embarked on a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology (2018–2024, Viva pending), also at the University of Ghana. Throughout his academic path, William has maintained a strong interdisciplinary focus—integrating molecular biology, physiology, and cell biology with practical research on diseases like sickle cell and malaria. His PhD was conducted under the prestigious West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), supported by multiple international grants, where he gained valuable skills in omics technologies and disease modeling. His academic training reflects both scientific rigor and a deep-rooted commitment to addressing health burdens in Africa.

Experience

William Agbozo has over six years of academic and research experience. From 2017 to 2023, he worked as a Lecturer at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Central University, Accra, where he taught undergraduate physiology and supervised research and academic writing. In 2023, he transitioned to the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, USA, as a Research Scholar in the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Immunology. At Morehouse, he is engaged in conceptualizing research ideas, contributing to grant proposals, and conducting laboratory experiments in molecular and translational research. He also leads data analysis and presents at major scientific meetings. His work spans across both African and U.S.-based biomedical institutions, reinforcing a global collaborative perspective. His experience reflects a balance of education, research, mentorship, and scientific communication, aimed at producing actionable insights for health systems managing genetic and infectious diseases.

Awards and Honors

William Agbozo has received several prestigious awards in recognition of his academic excellence and impactful research. He was awarded a PhD Fellowship (2018–2024) from the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) under the World Bank African Centres of Excellence (ACE) initiative. Between 2019 and 2023, he secured research funding support from the Sickle Cell Disease Genomics Network of Africa (SickleGenAfrica), funded by the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute (U54HL141011). His scientific aptitude also earned him a place in the US Exchange Visitor Program as a research scholar at Morehouse School of Medicine (2023–2025), under the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS125775). These honors reflect both his research potential and his growing international reputation in the fields of sickle cell disease and molecular medicine. They have empowered him to explore groundbreaking discoveries using both human samples and experimental models.

Research Focus

William Agbozo’s research centers on the molecular mechanisms of hemolysis-mediated injury in diseases such as sickle cell disease (SCD) and human cerebral malaria (HCM). His work investigates how excess free heme contributes to acute kidney injury (AKI) and brain damage, using humanized sickle cell mouse models and post-mortem human samples. He applies cutting-edge genomics and proteomics to map signaling pathways and identify biomarkers that may serve as protective or therapeutic targets. Through his research, William aims to bridge molecular biology with translational applications, developing insights that could lead to novel treatments or interventions. His work is especially impactful in regions heavily burdened by malaria and genetic blood disorders. By collaborating across institutions in Ghana and the United States, he brings an interdisciplinary and international lens to pressing biomedical problems affecting both African and global populations.

Publication Top Notes

📄 Hydroxyurea Mitigates Heme-Induced Inflammation and Kidney Injury in Humanized Sickle Cell Mice. (2025)
📄 Circulating biomarkers associated with pediatric sickle cell disease. (2024)
📄 Assessing knowledge of sickle cell disease and health beliefs on premarital genetic screening among healthcare trainees at a tertiary institution: A cross‐sectional study. (2023)
📄 Sociodemographic and medical characteristics of liver cirrhosis deaths in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital. (2022)
📄 Phosphomolybdenum Blue Detection – A Review of Characteristics, Achievements, Challenges and Future Prospects. (2020)
📄 Frequencies and ethnic distribution of ABO and RhD blood groups in the Volta region of Ghana, towards effective blood bank services. (2022)
📄 Frequency of ABO/Rhesus (D) blood groupings and ethnic distribution in the Greater‐Accra region of Ghana, towards effective blood bank inventory. (2019)
📄 Neuregulin-1 attenuates hemolysis-mediated kidney injury in humanized sickle cell mice. (Submitted)

Education

Santina Bruzzone completed her high school education at Liceo Scientifico L. Lanfranconi in Genova, Italy, from 1986 to 1991. She then earned her degree in Biology from the University of Genova, graduating cum laude with a score of 110/110 in 1996. She received her Ph.D. in Biotechnology applied to Pharmacology and Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology applied to Biomedicine from the University of Milano from 1996 to 2000.

Experince

Santina Bruzzone worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES)–Section of Biochemistry, University of Genova, from January to March 2001. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, from April to December 2001. She returned to the University of Genova as a postdoctoral researcher from 2002 to 2005 and later became an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry from 2005 to 2016. She was promoted to Associate Professor of Biochemistry from 2016 to 2021 and became a Full Professor of Biochemistry in 2021.

Award and Honors

Santina Bruzzone received several awards and honors, including the Fellowship for training abroad from Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie (CIB) in 2001, the Fellowship for training abroad from the University of Genova in 2001, and the Faculty Research Visit Grant from DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) in 2013.

Publications

1. 🌟 CD38 and ADP-ribosyl cyclase catalyze the synthesis of a dimeric ADP-ribose that potentiates the Calcium-mobilizing activity of Cyclic ADP-ribose. (1997)
2. 🌟 Ectocellular CD38-catalyzed synthesis and intracellular Ca2+-mobilizing activity of Cyclic ADP-ribose. (1998)
3. 🌟 Expression of CD38 increases intracellular calcium concentration and reduces doubling time in HeLa and 3T3 cells. (1998)
4. 🌟 The transmembrane glycoprotein CD38 is a catalytically active transporter responsible for generation and influx of the second messenger Cyclic ADPribose across membranes. (1998)
5. 🌟 Dimeric and tetrameric forms of catalytically active transmembrane CD38 in transfected HeLa cells. (1998)
6. 🌟 Ligand-induced internalization of CD38 results in intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. (1999)
7. 🌟 Topology of CD38. (2000)
8. 🌟 Extracellular cyclic ADP-ribose increases intracellular free calcium concentration and stimulates proliferation of human hemopoietic progenitors. (2000)
9. 🌟 G(s) protein dysfunction in allergen-challenged human isolated passively sensitized bronchi. (2000)
10. 🌟 Connexin 43 hemichannels mediate Ca2+-regulated transmembrane NAD+ fluxes in intact cells. (2001)
11. 🌟 Extracellular Cyclic ADP-ribose potentiates Ach-induced contraction in bovine tracheal smooth muscle. (2001)
12. 🌟 Human CD38 and its ligand CD31 define a unique lamina propria T lymphocyte signaling pathway. (2001)
13. 🌟 Paracrinally stimulated expansion of early human hemopoietic progenitors by stroma-generated cyclic ADP-ribose. (2001)
14. 🌟 Paracrine roles of NAD+ and Cyclic ADP-ribose in increasing intracellular calcium and enhancing cell proliferation of 3T3 fibroblasts. (2001)
15. 🌟 Autocrine abscisic acid mediates the UV-B-induced inflammatory response in human granulocytes and keratinocytes. (2012)
16. 🌟 ABA says NO to UV-B: a universal