Michael Owusu

Dr. Michael Owusu is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences and Senior Research Fellow at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. He serves as chairman of the KNUST COVID-19 modelling Committee and has made significant contributions to virological diagnostics in Ghana, particularly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. With over 69 peer-reviewed publications and 4 book contributions, his work spans infectious disease epidemiology, viral zoonosis, and microbial genomics.

Dr. Owusu studied Medical Laboratory Technology at the undergraduate level and completed his PhD in Clinical Microbiology. Prior to joining KNUST, he worked for 10 years as a Biomedical Scientist and Microbiologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he utilized classical microbiological techniques for pathogen identification.

His research focuses on understanding interactions among microbial agents in respiratory and gastrointestinal niches using both classical and molecular techniques. He is particularly interested in viral zoonosis, microbial genomics, and the epidemiology of epidemic-prone infectious diseases. Dr. Owusu has been instrumental in developing Ghana's capacity for virological diagnostics and has contributed significantly to the country's response to emerging infectious disease threats.

His recent publications (2020-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on SARS-CoV-2 genomics, respiratory virus epidemiology, typhoid fever surveillance, and innovative diagnostic approaches. His work often addresses public health challenges specific to resource-limited settings in Africa, with particular attention to surveillance systems, diagnostic methods, and disease modeling.

Dr. Owusu serves as a reviewer for high-impact journals including BMC Medicine, BMC Infectious Diseases, PLOS One, and PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. He was recently appointed to the Board of Reviewers of the American Society of Microbiology, recognizing his expertise in the field.

He has served on over 30 university and international committees and is actively involved in public health initiatives in Ghana. His research group focuses on developing laboratory capacity for infectious disease detection and response, with particular emphasis on strengthening Ghana's ability to respond to emerging pathogens.