SIT Hosts a DNA Barcoding workshop at Penyi
The DNA barcoding workshop was organized in partnership with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center USA, DNA Learning Center Nigeria and Sena Institute of Technology, Ghana. Participants had the opportunity to extract DNA from various plants, amplify them and perform bioinformatics on sample sequences. The workshop was facilitated by Prof. George Ude, Mr. Michael Okoro, Prof. Tom Broker and Dr. Kwasi Agbleke.
Field Research on Marine Biodiversity Conservation Research
Documenting marine life has been one of the interesting projects currently ongoing at SIT. We concluded 2022 with a final field research to the Western Region of Ghana. The team collected samples from Elmina and Takoradi. By this effort, we have sampled more than 140 species across the major coastal regions of Ghana and processing the specimen for sequencing to properly identify them for future conservation efforts. Interesting specimen documented includes variable fishes, shark, sting rays and crabs. This effort is through our collaboration with the Ocean Genome Legacy of Northeastern University.
Denu, Volta Region
Ada, Greater Accra Region
Elmina, Central Region
Takoradi, Western Region
Collaboration on African Marine Biodiversity
We are excited to partner with the Ocean Genome Legacy, Northeastern University to sample and sequence marine biodiversity across Ghana. The project will enable us to study the extent of biodiversity in the region and provide data to protect its loss. Material from the work will be deposited at the SIT Sub-Saharan African Genome Repository for future research and also enable us to train the upcoming generation in genetics and biodiversity conservation. Read more about it here
The Sena Institute of Technology has received its first Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from the Ghana Health Services Ethics Review Committee to study the molecular genetics of fibroid among Ghanaian women, the prevalence of the disease in Ghana, and the burden of the disease on women and its impact on the Ghana Health system.
The work will enable us grow fibroid organelles in the lab, genetically profile them and identify markers of the disease; qualitative research to assess the impact of the disease on women; and establish the prevalence of the disease across multiple regions in the country.
With collaborators such as Fibroid Foundation Africa and University of Chicago Ob-gyn, we will explore fibroid through multifaceted approaches.
- Field research where we are documenting plants and marine organisms for conservation.
- Molecular Biology where we use microscopy and genetic tools in the lab.
- Fibroid prevalence and cell line generation.
- Continue our training programs for high school students.
FASEB2023 in Ghana!!!
Join the Sena Institute of Technology and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) in Ghana for a week of talks on cellular imaging, workshops on bioinformatics and microscopy, and an opportunity to network with your peers and established scientists in cell biology, genetics, computational biology and healthcare. Abstract deadline is September 9th.
June 2022: SIT installs 20kVA Solar generation system
The Sena Institute of Technology solar power project is now complete at Penyi and can generate 20kVA of solar energy for our research work. We thank all our donors and supporters for making this a reality. The solar installation will take us off the national hydroelectric power grid, limit the frequency of power outages at our facility especially during the dry season and strengthening our capacity to take on daring long-term research projects.
June 2022: International fellowship and Fibroid Research in Ghana
This summer, we welcome Global Health Fellows from University of Chicago to the Sena Institute of Technology, Ghana. The fibroid project is in partnership with Dr. Ayman Al Hendy, University of Chicago Obstetrics and Gynecology Department and Fibroid Foundation Africa. Through this partnership we will document the prevalence of fibroid across Africa especially within Ghana and generate an African fibroid cell line. We thank Ms. Lillian Prince, Ms. Thembi Ndebele and Ms. Narvella Sefah and staff of the Fibroid Foundation Africa especially Ms. Liz Korasare.
This project is supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund grant for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships in Ghana.
June 2022: SIT takes delivery of a Biosafety Cabinet
Today we are closer to our goal of generating the first African/Ghanaian Fibroid cell line, conducting gene editing research and generating DNA for genome sequencing at the Sena Institute of Technology Ghana. With the Sterigard III Advance biosafety cabinet installed and calibrated, we can start derivation of human, mammalian, yeast and plant cells and tissues at our molecular biology lab.
We thank Harvard University for donating the cabinet.
June 2022: SIT team plants 200 tree seedlings
Seedlings planted included cassia, neem and palm. We thank participants of the tree planting exercise especially Ms. Annabella Nkansah, Mr. Humphery Thompson, Mr. Michael Agbleke, Mr. Alan Abaidoo and Mr. Cephas Adjei.
June 2022: Sena Aquatic Life conservation Project
The Sena Aquatic life conservation project kicked off with marine life documentation across Ghana Coastline from Denu in the Volta Region through Ada and Prampram (Greater Accra Region) to Cape Coast (Central Region).
The project’s goal is to sequence hundreds of marine organisms and is in partnership with the Ocean Genome Legacy, Northeastern University.
May 2022:
SIT celebrates its first training program
We thank Togbuiga Dadzi V, Paramount Chief of Penyi; Togbui Ekle II, Chief of Hatta; Togbui Axorlu II, Chief of Atsiagorme; elders; Hon. Charlotte Dordunoo, assemblywoman; Rev. Fr. Selasi Amegashitsi; representatives of the municipal assembly; and parents for their immense support for the Senior High School students who completed the Junior Training Program at Sena Institute of Technology at Penyi. It is indeed a pleasure to hear from our Paramount Chief words of advice for the students. It is encouraging to see a united Penyi working to give hope to the next generation, Volta Region and Ghana.
The students went through a 1-month intensive training in microscopy, plant database management and molecular biology where they extracted DNA from fruits.
April 2022:
SIT renews its Conservation, Food and Health Grant
Sena Institute of Technology renews its grants to documents plants in Ghana and their applications for food, therapy and supplements.
March 2022: SIT receives epifluorescence Microscopes
SIT takes delivery of two widefield microscopes for transmitted and reflected microscopy. The donation is to support the microscopy core facility.
January 2022: SIT takes delivery of an RT-PCR machine
As part of our effort to conduct Covid19 testing in the Penyi-Dzodze area, we received the Strategene Mx3005 RT-PCR machine. The set-up is now available for use in the SIT molecular biology laboratory and for researchers across the country.
4/22/2021
Sena Institute of Technology receives a $25,000 grant from Conservation, Food and Health Foundation.
Sena Institute of Technology Foundation receives a $25,000 to develop a Ghanaian crop database and biospecimen repository to help conserve medicinal and food plants.
4/22/2021
Dr. Kwasi Agbleke, SIT founder, is featured on the Harvard Spotlight!!!
Read more about Dr. Agbleke’s work at Harvard University and his effort to develop research capacity in Ghana.
4/14/2021
SIT African Seminar Series/Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Catalyst Conference
SIT hosts a FASEB catalyst conference on “Imaging cells to organisms for basic science and medical research”. The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Cassandra Extavour (Harvard University). Four other distinguished speakers include Dr. Kim McKim (Rutgers University), Dr. HaithamShaban (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, and National Research Centre, Egypt), Dr. Vincent Amarh (University of Ghana) and Dr. Doug Richardson (Harvard University).
For more information, check calendar
3/24/2021
SIT receives a $100,000 grant from the New England Biolabs
SIT receives a grant from New England Biolabs. We are grateful for the grant which will enable us expand our research into plants and develop capacity to promote local research and technology development.
For more about the award here.
3/17/2021
SIT African Seminar Series
Dr. Andrew Seeber at the Harvard Center for Advanced Imaging discusses precision genome engineering and chromatin mobility.
For more information, check calendar
2/17/2021
SIT African Seminar Series
Dr. Tom Broker at the University of Alabama in Birmingham launches the inaugural African Seminar series on “Imaging cells to organisms for basic science and medical research”. He will discuss site-specific recombination and the application of Electron Microscopy for DNA and RNA discovery.
For more information, check calendar
6/29/2019
SIT 3D printing lecture series
Mr. Jordan Pelowitz will be giving an online lecture on 3D printing through Zoom.
For more information, check calendar
2/28/2019
SIT president was featured on the Personal Genetics Education.
Dr. Jumana Abed interviewed and wrote a thought provoking piece on Dr. Kwasi Agbleke, President of Sena Institute of Technology and founder of TrickleS.
Kwasi stands at the shipping office in New York City to make sure the paperwork is in order for all the lab equipment he is sending off to Ghana: fridges, freezers, incubators, centrifuges, even glassware. This is his seventh shipment within two and a half years. Every few months, he shops around for secondhand equipment, has them delivered to his home in Boston, MA, packages everything, and then drives the packages to New York City in a rental truck. Back in his hometown in Accra, Ghana, his mom and sisters receive these shipments, and then his younger brother drives them ……. The full story is published here.