DR SAMUEL ARMOO

Dr. Samuel Armoo is a public health scientist and molecular geneticist with extensive expertise in parasitology, molecular genetics, and the diagnosis of infectious tropical diseases. He currently serves as a Senior Research Scientist and Head of the Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit at the CSIR-Water Research Institute, Accra, Ghana. Dr. Armoo’s foundational training was at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (Accra, Ghana), where he worked as a Research Assistant specializing in PCR genotyping within a multidisciplinary malaria research group. This experience laid the foundation for his MPhil in Public Health from the University of Ghana School of Public Health. He earned his PhD at La Trobe University, Australia, where his research focused on Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of river blindness—a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). Employing advanced techniques such as next-generation sequencing, TA cloning, Sanger sequencing, bioinformatics, and real-time PCR, he investigated genetic variations and copy number variations of Wolbachia endosymbionts in O. volvulus. Dr. Armoo’s first postdoctoral role was as a Team Leader for schistosomiasis operational research in Ghana, part of the multinational COUNTDOWN initiative led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. His second postdoctoral appointment at the University of Birmingham involved Cas9-targeted MinION sequencing of blackflies. However, his work was redirected in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he was appointed Leader of the COVID-19 Diagnosis and Research Team. Under his leadership, the team successfully established and operated diagnostic protocols, earning him special presidential recognition in 2023 as one of Ghana’s COVID-19 heroes. Currently, Dr. Armoo serves as the Molecular Genetics Team Leader for the CSIR-Ghana branch of the CHANJO Hub, which focuses on developing vaccines for diseases with epidemic potential in low- and middle-income countries. In addition to his research and leadership roles, Dr. Armoo has consulted for international organizations, including Newmont and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). His impactful career reflects his dedication to advancing public health through innovative research and capacity building. 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

REFREED JOURNAL PAPERS

1. Chikezie, F.M., Veriegh, F.B.D., Armoo, S., Boakye, D.A., Taylor, M. and Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., (2024). Ongoing transmission of onchocerciasis in the Pru District of Ghana after two decades of mass drug administration with ivermectin and comparative identification of members of the Simulium damnosum complex using cytological and morphological techniques. Parasites & Vectors,17(1), p.394.
2. Shrestha, H., McCulloch, K., Chisholm, R.H., Armoo, S., Veriegh, F., Sirwani, N., Crawford, K.E., Osei‐Atweneboana, M.Y., Grant, W.N. and Hedtke, S.M., (2024). Synthesizing environmental, epidemiological and vector and parasite genetic data to assist decision making for disease elimination. Molecular Ecology, 33(11), p.e17357.
3. Hodgson, J., Twieku, G., Quarcoo, G., Armah, E., Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y. and Armoo, S. (2024). Toward the elimination of NTDs: application of cost-effective and sensitive molecular environmental surveillance tools—a pilot study. Frontiers in Parasitology, 3, p.1340161.
4. Crawford, K.E., Hedtke, S.M., Doyle, S.R., Kuesel, A.C., Armoo, S., Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y. and Grant, W.N. (2024). Genome-based tools for onchocerciasis elimination: Utility of the mitochondrial genome for delineating Onchocerca volvulus transmission zones. International Journal for Parasitology, 54(3-4), pp.171-183.
5. Armoo, S., Twieku, G. and Armah, E., (2023). Molecular screening of chewing sticks and sponges found on the Ghanaian local market for diarrhoea-causing microbes-a pilot study. Ghana Journal of Science, 64(2), pp.23-29.
6. Quarcoo, G., Boamah Adomako, L.A., Abrahamyan, A., Armoo, S., Sylverken, A.A., Addo, M.G., Alaverdyan, S., Jessani, N.S., Harries, A.D., Ahmed, H. and Banu, R.A., (2022). What is in the salad? Escherichia coli and antibiotic resistance in lettuce irrigated with various water sources in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), p.12722.
7. Morang’a, C., Ngoi, J., Gyamfi, J., Amuzu, D., Nuertey, B., Soglo, P., Appiah, V., Asante, I., Owusu-Oduro, P., Armoo, S. and Adu-Gyasi, D., et al. (2022). Genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ghana from 2020-2021. Nature Communications, 13(1), 1-11.
8. Armoo, S., Cunningham, L.J., Campbell, S.J., Aboagye, F.T., Boampong, F.K., Hamidu, B.A., Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., Stothard, J.R., and Adams, E.R. (2020). Detecting Schistosoma mansoni infections among pre-school-aged children in southern Ghana: a diagnostic comparison of urine-CCA, real-time PCR and Kato-Katz assays. BMC Infect Dis 20, 301.
9. Cunningham, L.J., Campbell, S.J., Armoo, S., Koukounari, A., Watson, V., Selormey, P., Stothard, J.R., Idun, B., Asiedu, M., Ashong, Y., et al. (2020). Assessing expanded community wide treatment for schistosomiasis: Baseline infection status and self-reported risk factors in three communities from the Greater Accra region, Ghana. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 14, e0007973
10. Cunningham, LJ, Stothard, JR, Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., Armoo, S., Verweij, J., and Adams, ER (2018). Developing a real-time PCR assay based on multiplex high-resolution melt-curve analysis: a pilot study in detection and discrimination of soil-transmitted helminth and schistosome species. Parasitology 145, 1733-1738.
11. Campbell, SJ, Osei-Atweneboana, MY, Stothard, R, Koukounari, A, Cunningham, L, Armoo, S., Biritwum, NK, Gyapong, M, MacPherson, E, Theobald, S and Woode, ME, (2018). The COUNTDOWN study protocol for expansion of mass drug administration strategies against schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Ghana. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 3(1), p.10
12. Armoo S., Doyle SR, Osei-Atweneboana MY, and Grant WN (2017). Significant heterogeneity in Wolbachia copy number within and between populations of Onchocerca volvulus. Parasit Vectors 10, 188.
13. Doyle SR, Armoo S, Renz A, Taylor MJ, Osei-Atweneboana MY, and Grant WN (2016). Discrimination between Onchocerca volvulus and ochengi filarial larvae in Simulium damnosum s.l. and their distribution throughout central Ghana using a versatile high-resolution speciation assay. Parasit Vectors 10; 9(1): 536.

CONSULTANCY REPORTS

14. Armoo, S., Agyapong, I., Amonoo, N.A., Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., (2021). A Survey of rectors and water related diseases in the Newmont operational area in the Birim North district. 2021), CSIR-WRI, Accra. (Client: Newmont Golden Ridge Limited). CSIR/WRI/ACR/SA/2021/1
15. Armoo, S., Veriegh, F., Aboagye, F.T., Nuru-Ahmed, F., (2020). Invertebrate Vector-Based studies on water-related diseases in the Newmont Operational area in the Birim North District. A 2020 dry season study. (Newmont Golden Ridge Limited February 2020), CSIR-WRI, Accra. CSIR/WRI/ACR/SA/2020/2
16. Veriegh, F.B.D., Aboagye, F.T., Nuru-Ahmed, F., Armoo, S. (2020). Invertebrate vector-based studies on water-related diseases in the Newmont operational area in the Birim North District – A 2020 dry season report. In Ecological study of the water storage dam (Client: Newmont Golden Ridge Limited). CSIR/WRI/ACR/SA/2020/1
17. Armoo S., Veriegh F.B.D., Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y. (2019). A report on dry season survey of vectors of water-related diseases in and around the Newmont Akyem mine project site. In Ecological study of the water storage dam. (Client: Newmont Golden Ridge Limited). CSIR/WRI/ACR/SA/2019/1
18. Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., Niampoma, S., Veriegh, F.B.D., Aboagye F.T., Armoo S. (2018). Assessments of vectors of water-related diseases at the Newmont Akyem mine project site. In Ecological study of the water storage dam. (Client: Newmont Golden Ridge Limited). CSIR/WRI/ACR/SA/2018/1
19. Asmah, R., Dankwa, H., Addico, G., Armoo, S., Mensah, G., Akpabey, F., Amevenku, F. (2010). Assessment of the ecological and public health status of a water storage facility. (Client: Newmont Golden Ridge Limited). CSIR/WRI/ACR/RA/2010/1

MANUALS

20. Armoo, S., Derelle, R., Boakye, D.A., Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., Brockhouse, C., Colbourne, J. (2020). Cas9 targeted sequencing protocol for Simulium sp. and Onchocerca volvulus. A GNATWORK Consortium online manual: URL: https://www.gnatwork.ac.uk/sites/gnatwork/files/content/attachments/2020-07-03/Protocol_GN%2023.pdf
21. Armoo, S., Derelle, R., Boakye, D.A., Osei-Atweneboana, M.Y., Brockhouse, C., Colbourne, J. (2020). DNA extraction protocol for Simulium sp. and Onchocerca volvulus. A GNATWORK Consortium online manual: URL: https://www.gnatwork.ac.uk/sites/gnatwork/files/content/attachments/2020-07-06/Protocol_GN%2024.pdf
22. Armoo S. (2020), Pipetting manual for the molecular biology laboratory. Prepared for the Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit of the CSIR-Water Research Institute.
23. Armoo S., Asuming-Brempong E., Tettevi E. (2019). Quality control measures in the Biomedical and Public Health Research Unit of the CSIR-Water Research Institute.

EDITED TECHNICAL REPORTS

24. Armoo, S., Tweiku, G., Amonoo, N.A., Aseidu, M., Anane, Y.A., Asuming-Brempong, E., Osei- Atweneboana, M.Y. (2023). Evaluation of the efficacy of NUF 500 filtration device for removal of viruses of public health importance, CSIR-WRI, Accra.
25. Armoo, S., Amonoo, N. A., Twieku, G., Armah, E., Nuru-Ahmed F., Asiedu, M., Abdul-Rahman, M., Agyapong, I., Frimpong, I. O., Boampong, F. K., Kuma, N. A., Agyeman, R., Buahin, A., Hodgson, J., Anim, G. K., Osei-Atweneboana M. (2022). An effective public health surveillance system for Covid-19 infections in Ghana: the contributions of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR-WRI, Accra.
26. Armoo, S., Twieku, G., Armah, E., Kuma, N. A., Agyeman, R., Buahin, A., Hodgson, Osei-Atweneboana M. (2022). A cost- effective, sensitive and less intrusive molecular diagnostic technique for detecting covid-19 infections at workplaces, CSIR-WRI, Accra.