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DrNdong Ignatius Cheng

Orcid identifier0000-0003-1073-3956 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • +233561817583 (Mobile)
  • +233553609927 (Mobile)
  • Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Epidemiology, P.O. Box LG 581 Legon, Accra, UG, Accra, Greater Accra, 233, Ghana

BIO

  1. My long-term goal is to become a leading scientist in the field of Implementation Research with a focus on infectious diseases, especially malaria where I hope to contribute towards elimination. Following my master’s studies, participated in a project investigating the “equity and cost effectiveness of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy”, at the University of Yaoundé 1, designing and implementing interventions to change clinical management of uncomplicated malaria in Cameroon. During my doctoral studies at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) South Africa, I evaluated the implementation of malaria treatment guidelines in Cameroon following the change in policy from chloroquine to artesunate amodiaquine as first line drug over the period 2006-2012 in Cameroon and determined that malaria prevalence trends mainly reflected the situation in under 15 children. I subsequently became interested in undertaking mass testing, treating, and tracking (MTTT) with the aim of reducing malaria transmission and contributing to elimination. As a WHO/TDR postdoctoral Fellow in Implementation Research at NMIMR, University of Ghana from 2016-2018, I demonstrated that implementing MTTT could achieve high coverage, reduce asymptomatic carriage, anaemia and febrile illnesses in under 15 children. In 2019, I was awarded the EDCTP career development followship to validate the findings of MTTT, which demonstrated implementing MTTT over time could conrribute to reducing the malaria burden in all age groups. I have piloted the implementation of malaria mass drug administration (MDA) in high endemic communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana and preliminary results reveal that MDA in endemic communities could be effective in reducing malaria transmission to elimination levels using DHAP. These opportunities enabled me to develop skills in implementation research, lead a research team, engage stakeholders at various levels as well as organizing and working with community volunteer teams. While pursuing my career thus far, I have interacted with world-class scientists from a variety of fields, building my soft skills and expanding my professional network. I have experience in data collection, both qualitative and quantitative, analsysis, timely report writing, presentation, dissemination and exploitation of results. As a result of these previous experiences, I am aware of the importance of effective communication among project team members as well as a realistic research plan, timeline, and budget which are important components of the present position. I have also participated in two grantsmanship workshops organized by the Washington University at St Louis USA in collaboration with the University of Ghana on developing NIH grants and Horizon Europe grant writing skills through a WANETAM workshops. Aside from science, I founded the Njongndong Foundation where we developed games used to help children and community groups learn healthcare concepts on topics such as malaria and HIV/AIDS in a leisurely manner. Through these games children learn how to identify problems, define solutions, develop an action plan, and undertake the action and these let to involving their parents to take action.

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • WHO/TDR Postdoctoral Researcher in Implementation Research
    Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Epidemiology, Accra, Ghana1 Aug 2016 - 30 Jul 2018
  • Senior Lecturer
    Catholic University of Cameroon, Department of Biochemistry, Bamenda, Cameroon28 Dec 2017 - 31 Jan 2023
  • EDCTPP Career Development Fellow
    Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Epidemiology, Accra, Ghana1 Feb 2020 - 30 Jan 2023
  • Prof. Ogobara Doumbo Postdoc Fellow in Implementation Research at WANETAM
    Medical Research Council The Gambia Unit at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Disease Control and Elimination, Banjul, Gambia1 Oct 2022 - 30 Mar 2024

NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Founding Coordinator of Health Economics Policy and Management Programme
    Catholic University of Cameroon, Department of Health Economics Policy and Management, Bamenda, Cameroon1 Oct 2010 - 30 Nov 2014
  • Director of Cooperation
    Catholic University of Cameroon, Management, Bamenda, Cameroon23 Aug 2013 - 30 Nov 2015
  • Field Coordinator on the Research on the Equity and Cost effectiveness of ACTs (REACT) project in Cameroon. This project was implemented by the LSHTM, University of Yaoundé I and Enugu State University, Nigeria
    University of Yaounde 1, Biotechnology Centre Nkolbisson, Yaounde, Cameroon1 Feb 2009 - 31 Dec 2011
  • Coordinator
    Njongndong Foundation, Yaounde, Cameroon1 Sep 2001 - 10 Mar 2025

DEGREES

  • PhD, Pharmaceutics
    North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa1 Apr 2013 - 27 May 2016

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • MPhil Entomology
    University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Zoology, Accra, Greater Accra, 233, Ghana1 Aug 2006 - 28 Dec 2008
    EntomologySupervised by Prof. Daniel A. Boakye DAB

LANGUAGES

  • English
    Can read, write, speak, understand and peer review
  • French
    Can read, write, speak and understand

WHO REGION

  • WHO African Region

COUNTRY OF NATIONALITY

  • Cameroon

TAGS