Richard Odame Phillips

Professor Richard Odame Phillips is a distinguished academic and medical researcher at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, where he holds the position of Professor of Medicine in the School of Medical Sciences. He also serves as Scientific Director of the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) and as Consultant in Infectious Disease at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Phillips has established himself as a leading expert in neglected tropical diseases, particularly Buruli ulcer (M. ulcerans disease), with his work directly influencing WHO treatment guidelines.

His research focuses on developing rapid diagnostics for Buruli ulcer and tuberculosis, understanding immune responses in mycobacterial infections, and improving treatment protocols for skin NTDs. Phillips has pioneered several diagnostic approaches including isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification assays, fluorescence of mycolactone on thin layer chromatography, and viability testing of M. ulcerans in clinical samples. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to the field, with recent work focusing on TB diagnostics, immune biomarkers, and spatial mapping of Buruli ulcer risk.

Professor Phillips has received numerous prestigious awards including the WHO/TDR Impact Award and the Senior Fellowship Award from the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership. He currently leads multiple significant research projects funded by organizations including DFG, EDCTP, and WHO, with a particular focus on non-tuberculous mycobacteria in pulmonary disease and shortening Buruli ulcer treatment regimens. As Scientific Director of KCCR, he mentors the next generation of African researchers in tropical medicine and infectious disease.