Adugna Abera – Biological Networks – Best Researcher Award

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Adugna Abera – Biological Networks – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Adugna Abera distinguished academic and researcher in the field Biological Networks. He has held several key positions in public health research and coordination. From August 2021 to July 2022, he served as the National COVID-19 Epidemiological Surveillance and Laboratory Coordinator at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Concurrently, since 2019, he has been pursuing his Ph.D. at Addis Ababa University, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, in the Department of Cellular, Microbial, and Molecular Technology, focusing on the Applied Genetics stream.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He completed his educational journey at Addis Ababa University, where he first earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology in July 2005. He then continued his studies at the same university and obtained a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology in June 2009. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. in Applied Genetics at Addis Ababa University, having started in September 2019 and expected to complete his doctorate in the near future.

Research Experience

He has extensive experience in research laboratory techniques, particularly in the study of Visceral Leishmaniasis and related assays. His expertise includes conducting FACS-based whole blood assays such as reactive oxygen burst assays, phagocytosis assays, and leukocytes surface activation markers assays. Additionally, he is skilled in whole blood stimulation for ELISA-based cytokine/chemokine assays and the isolation and subtyping of human monocyte-derived macrophages. He has also cultivated and handled both wild strain and gene reporter Leishmania parasites. His proficiency extends to a wide range of molecular techniques, including DNA extraction from various clinical samples, conventional PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), Sanger capillary electrophoresis sequencing, whole genome sequencing using both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore platforms, PET-PCR, nested and quantitative PCR (qPCR), PCR-RFLP, and real-time PCR.

Experience

Prior to his role in COVID-19 coordination, he was the team leader of the Malaria and NTDs research team at EPHI from September 2017 until 2020 and continues to work as a researcher in the same team to date. Additionally, from 2017 to 2019, he coordinated the Malaria Elimination Baseline Assessment in elimination-targeted districts in Ethiopia. His earlier career included working as a Research Assistant on the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases research team at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute in Addis Ababa from March 2010 to April 2016. He also served as an instructor at Bethel Medical College in Addis Ababa from September 2009 to January 2010.

Award

He has been recognized with several prestigious awards and fellowships. In November 2023, he received a fellowship to participate in a hands-on Genomics and Bioinformatics training workshop at Stellenbosch University, which took place from the 13th to the 24th. Earlier, he was selected for the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT), which was supported by WHO/TDR and held at the University of Gonder from September 24 to October 6, 2018. These opportunities have enhanced his skills and expanded his expertise in his field.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬
  1. G/meskel W., Desta K., Diriba R., Belachew M., Evans M., Cantarelli V., Urrego M, Sisay A., Gebreegziabxier A., Abera A. SARS-CoV-2 variant typing using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction–based assays in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. IJID Regions. 2024; 11(2024): 100363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100363.
  2. Gebregziabher SM., Yalew AW., Sime H., Abera A. Molecular detection of waterborne pathogens in infants’ drinking water and theirrelationship with water quality determinants in eastern Ethiopia: loop-mediatedisothermal amplification (LAMP)-based study. Journal of Water & Health. 2024; 22(1): 1. doi: 10.2166/wh.2023.201.
  3. Abera, A., Mamecha, T., Abose, E., Bokicho, B., Ashole, A., Bishaw, T., Mariyo, A., Bogale, B., Terefe, H., Tadesse, H., Belachew, M., Difabachew, H., Eukubay, A., Kinde, S., Ali, A., Regasa, F., Seife, F., Kebede, Z., Wossen, M., Tollera, G., … Tasew, G. Reemergence of Human African Trypanosomiasis Caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Ethiopia. Emerging infectious diseases. 2024; 30(1): 125–128. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3001.231319.
  4. Zeleke MT, Gelaye KA, Abera A, Teshome MB, Guma GT, Abate BT, et al. (2023) Diagnostic performance of PfHRP2/pLDH malaria rapid diagnostic tests in elimination setting, northwest Ethiopia. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(7): e0001879. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001879.
  5. Tameru K, Tsegaye B, Shikur M, Ergete W, Tasew G, Abera A, and Wolday D. Case Report: Disseminated Strongloidesstercoralis Presenting as an Ulcerated Gastric Mass in an HIV-1-Infected Patient. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 106(6), 2022, pp. 1675–1677. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0791.
  6. Sisay A, Abera A, Dufera B, Endrias T, Tasew G, Tesfaye A, et al. (2022) Diagnostic accuracy of three commercially available one step RT-PCR assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited settings. PLoS ONE 17(1): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262178.
  7. Belachew, M., Wolde, M., Nega, D. Gidey B, Negash L, Assefa A, Tasew G, Woyessa A, Abera A.Evaluating performance of multiplex real time PCR for the diagnosis of malaria at elimination targeted low transmission settings of Ethiopia. Malar J 21, 9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-04029-x.
  8. Nega, Abera A, Gidey B et al. Baseline malaria prevalence at the targeted pre-elimination districts in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health (2021) 21:1996. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12036-5.
  9. Abera A, Belay H, Zewude A et al. Establishment of COVID-19 testing laboratory in resource-limited settings: challenges and prospects reported from Ethiopia. Global Health Action. 2020; 13(1841963):1-7.
  10. Gidey B, Nega D, Abera Aet al. Mentorship on malaria microscopy diagnostic service in Ethiopia: baseline competency of microscopists and performance of health facilities. Malaria Journal. 2021; 20(1).
  11. Tasew G, Gadisa E, Abera A et al. Whole blood-based in vitro culture reveals diminished secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in visceral leishmaniasis. Cytokine. 2020; 155246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155246.
  12. Abib Berhanu, Adugna Abera, Desalegn Nega, SindewMekasha, Surafel Fentaw, Abebe Assefa, Gashaw Gebrewolde, Yonas Wuletaw, Ashenafi Assefa, Sisay Dugassa, Habte Tekie1 and Geremew Tasew. Isolation and identification of microflora from the midgut and salivary glands of Anopheles species in malaria endemic areas of Ethiopia. BMC Microbiology. 2019; 19:85.