Noguchi commissions Africa’s most advanced cell sorter

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has commissioned the FACS Discover S8 Cell Sorter, the most advanced of its kind in Africa and the Middle East, to enhance research on cancer, infectious diseases, and immune responses.

Acquired through internally generated funds (IGF), the cutting-edge equipment will eliminate the need to send medical samples abroad for advanced analysis. The BD FACSDiscoverTMS8 Cell Sorter, from Becton Dickinson (BD) International Ltd, enables in-depth single-cell analysis, significantly improving diagnostics and biomedical research.

Speaking at the commissioning, NMIMR Director, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, emphasized the impact of the new equipment on local diagnostics.

“Currently, for many disease conditions, hospitals have to send samples abroad, sometimes as far as South Africa,” she said.

She urged diagnostic laboratories to stop outsourcing sample analysis, as Ghana now has the technology to conduct comprehensive disease studies locally.

“If someone has cancer, an infectious disease, or any other condition, we can now study how the immune system is responding without having to send samples outside Ghana,” she added.

The institute also inaugurated a refurbished molecular biology suite, funded by the Government of Ghana, to strengthen disease diagnosis, genetic research, and outbreak preparedness

Highlighting the equipment’s role in drug discovery, Prof. Yeboah-Manu stated that it would support vaccine development and cancer treatment research, including immune response analysis and chemotherapy prognosis tracking.

“Before a vaccine is introduced, trials must assess how the immune system responds. This machine allows us to conduct that analysis right here in Ghana,” she explained.

She also noted its significance in cancer treatment monitoring, adding, “This machine helps us track how cells respond to chemotherapy, improving patient care.”

Prof. David Dodoo-Arhin, Director of Research, Innovation & Development at the University of Ghana, praised NMIMR’s achievements in medical research, stating that the new equipment would advance studies in immunology, cancer, and infectious diseases.

Prof. Michael Ofori, Head of NMIMR’s Immunology Department, assured that the equipment would be fully utilized to generate research funding, attract further investment, and boost scientific output.