Dr. Elvis Twumasi Aboagye

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Aboagye is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, with research focus on hearing impairment mutational load in African populations. Experienced in clinical and field research, he is conducting in-depth molecular and genomic investigations in hearing-impaired cohorts recruited in Ghana and coordinate multi-country hearing impairment genetic and molecular characterization studies in the Group (GeneMAP), under the mentorship of Prof. Ambroise Wonkam. Self-motivated and passionate about the life sciences particularly in human genetics, Elvis is using population genetic tools and molecular biology techniques to interrogate the underpinning mutational signature and genetic landscape of African populations with hearing disabilities. His research goal includes harnessing organoids to elucidate the role of heritable and epigenomic profile in hearing disorder development and presentations, for translational and therapeutic targets explorations, to generate data to contribute to knowledge on auditory pathobiology towards advancing clinical research and patient care.

He completed his Ph.D. at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon and the Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town. Elvis holds a BSc degree in Biochemistry from the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, and an MPhil degree in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Ghana. His Ph.D. studentship focused on elucidating specific genetic markers segregating for early on-set of hearing impairment among Ghanaians (HI-GENES PROJECT GHANA). The goal was to design molecular diagnostic tool to complement the current clinical newborn screening methods. His zeal for clinical genetics application is reflected in his interest to explore computational algorithms to correct cellular genetic and epigenetic dysregulation, epi-transcriptomics and disease etiology, and single-cell resolution of DNA modifications. He stands by the quote “The laws of genetics apply even if you refuse to learn them.” – Allison Plowden