Professor George Armah is a distinguished scientist and a pioneer in rotavirus research in Africa. He holds an MSc in Physics from the University of Ghana and a PhD in Biophysical Chemistry and Immunology from Osaka University, Japan. In 1998, he co-founded the African Rotavirus Network (ARN), which has been instrumental in expanding rotavirus surveillance and supporting rotavirus vaccines introduction in Africa. His pioneering research at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana led to the WHO designating his lab as the Regional Rotavirus Reference Laboratory (RRL) for West Africa. Through his leadership, rotavirus surveillance systems have been strengthened, and critical vaccine efficacy trials—most notably the multi-country RotaTeq vaccine study have shaped global immunization policies, influencing the WHO’s recommendations for rotavirus vaccine use in developing countries.
As the Director of the RRL and Chair of Ghana’s National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, Professor Armah has played a vital role in shaping public health policies including the introduction of the Rotarix vaccine in Ghana in 2012 and the subsequent switch to the Rotavac vaccine in 2020. His ongoing work monitors the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines in Ghana and beyond. Professor Armah has also been at the forefront of clinical trials for innovative vaccines, including the novel parenteral rotavirus vaccine P2-VP8*.
As an adjunct Professor at the University of Ghana’s School of Public Health, he has lead clinical research training programmes for regulators from the West African region and the Ghana Ministry of Health. Prof. Armah is a founding member of the International Rotavirus Organization of Technical Advisers (ROTA) council and was recently recognized as a "Vaccine Hero" by the Gates Foundation. He is committed to mentorship and capacity building and has trained over 140 PhD/MSc/MPH graduates, significantly enhancing the technical expertise in rotavirus research in Africa.
