About DIG

Who we are...

DIG is a leading medicinal chemistry group at the University of Ghana, housed in the Department of Chemistry, Frank Tortor Building. Our research centres on diseases relevant to Africa and global health, with a primary focus on malaria, tuberculosis, cancer, leishmaniasis and, Buruli ulcer. Through strategic partnerships, we advance hit discovery, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization works.

Our Vision

To become a world-class leader in medicinal chemistry research and drug discovery, building a robust foundation for Africa-led drug innovation.

Our Mission

  1. Advance innovative medicinal chemistry research and support the development of new therapeutics for diseases prevalent in Africa.
  2. Establish global confidence in Africa’s drug discovery potential, with Ghana as a Centre of Excellence in medicinal chemistry.
  3. Ignite and nurture interest in medicinal chemistry across Africa, providing training and mentorship for the next generation of African scientists.
  4. Foster strategic partnerships with global research institutions, collaborators, and funders, building a strong ecosystem for African-led drug discovery research.

Brief History

The Drug Innovation Group (DIG) began as an academic research group led by Professor Richard Kwamla Amewu in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Ghana during the 2014/2015 academic year. In 2021, DIG transitioned into a fully-fledged drug discovery research group, marking a pivotal shift. This evolution enabled the team to go beyond academic exploration and actively contribute to global efforts addressing pressing global health challenges.

In its early days, DIG faced significant hurdles. Recruiting qualified personnel with expertise in organic or medicinal chemistry was challenging because no institution in Ghana, including the University of Ghana, had an active focus on organic synthesis. The skillset in organic and medicinal chemistry was either limited or entirely absent in Ghana and much of sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, the group had to build its capacity in organic synthesis from scratch. Today, all of DIG chemists have been trained locally, showcasing the group’s commitment to capacity building.

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Our Research

  • Malaria

    DIG heads the ADDA4Malaria project, partnering with African and global institutions to advance malaria drug discovery, with Prof. Amewu managing compound development.

  • Buruli Ulcer

    DIG creates accessible Buruli ulcer diagnostics targeting the mycolactone toxin.

  • Visceral Leishmaniasis

    DIG explores new chemotypes for leishmaniasis, focusing on sterol methyltransferase inhibitors and innovative drug design.

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Our facilities

  • Synthetic/Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • SCIEX 3500 Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MSMS)
  • Bruker 500 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Machine
  • Bruker D8 Quest Eco X-Ray Diffractometer
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