Gizachew Akalu

Assistant Professor

St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Ethiopia

Email: gtakalu@gmail.com

VALIDATE Role:

Network Affiliate

Research Keywords:

Tuberculosis, Diagnostics, Biomarker, Molecular Epidemiology, Implementation Research, Clinical Trials

Biography:

Gizachew Taddesse AKALU obtained his Ph.D. in Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology , Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2024); M.Sc. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences - Diagnostic and Public Health Microbiology, Addis Ababa University (2014); and B.Sc. in Medical Laboratory Technology, Addis Ababa University (2009). Akalu is working in an assistant professor position in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Professionally, Akalu has been President (November 2011-September 2012), and Executive Director (October 2012 – May 2018) of the Ethiopian Medical Laboratory Association (EMLA). Akalu is also a Life Time Member of Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) and Global Outreach Contributing Member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

Akalu is a certified Medical Laboratory Technologist and Clinical Laboratory Sciences Specialist (Diagnostics and Public Health Microbiology). His tenure in laboratory medicine spans almost 19 years, reflecting strong, innovative leadership skills coupled with hands-on experiences in laboratory medicine. He is trained among others in project management, clinical trials of in-vitro diagnostics and medical devices, and quality laboratory management systems to ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 15189 standards. Akalu has spearheaded significant milestones and growth achieved by EMLA under his leadership from 2012 to 2018. As a member of the National Laboratory Advisory Working Group, he has provided technical advice on how to standardize essential, vital and emerging test menu, operating procedures and laboratory equipment platform. Akalu has directed several trainings and workshops for professionals in laboratory medicine.

Akalu, being an academic enthusiast has contributed immensely to knowledge dissipation in teaching, organized more than 25 CPD courses and 50 in-service training sessions. He successfully organized 6 Annual conferences for EMLA from 2013 - 2018. Akalu has authored and co-authored more than 23 research articles and made more than 13 conference presentations. Akalu was the initiator and the first editorial manager of the Ethiopian journal of Laboratory Medicine. Akalu’s research interest includes molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases, biomarkers for diagnostics and vaccines. Since 2012, Akalu has been PI and co-PI in grants worth more than USD 1.3 Million. Born and grown in Gojjam, Ethiopia, Akalu has married to Sr Kokeb Gezahegn (Emergency and Critical Care Nurse Professional) and have TWO children; Leul G. 13 and Helena G.8.

Related Websites:

LinkedIn

Key Publications:

• Andualem Bayih, Gobena Dedefo, Samuel Kinde, Mekdes Alem, Abebe Edao Negesso, Amanuel Baye, Abera Abreham, Abush Getaneh, Gizachew Taddesse Akalu, Alem Bayable, Birku Gashaw, Melaku Tsegaye, Geleta Gemechu, Mistire Wolde. Serum ferritin level and associated factors among uncontrolled adult type II diabetic follow-up patients: comparative based cross-sectional study. BMC Endocr Disord. (2024) 24:144. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-024-01665-7.
• Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators†. The burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in the WHO African region in 2019: a cross-country systematic analysis. Lancet Glob Health. December 2023; 12: e201–16 https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00539-9.
• Akalu GT, Tessema B, Sinshaw S, et al. Epidemiology of first-and second-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in new pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Addis Ababa metropolitan area, Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2023; 37(2) 000-000. https://doi.org/10.20372/ejhd.v37i2.
• Yigezu A, Misganaw A, Getnet F, et al. Burden of lower respiratory infections and associated risk factors across regions in Ethiopia: a subnational analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases 2019 study. BMJ Open. 2023; 13: e068498. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068498.
• Akalu GT, Tessema B, Petros B. High proportion of RR-TB and mutations conferring RR outside of the RRDR of the rpoB gene detected in GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PLoS ONE. 2022; 17(12): e0277145. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277145.
• Mistire Wolde, Kassu Desta, Gizachew Taddesse Akalu, and Aster Tsegaye. Expansion of COVID-19 RT-PCR Diagnostic Laboratories in Private Healthcare Settings through Public-Private Partnership Approaches in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2022; 36(1). https://ejhd.org/index.php/ejhd/issue/view/151.
• Akalu GT, Teferi YA and Tullu KD. [2021] Association of Helicobacter pylori Infections and Hyperemesis Gravidarum Women: A Case Control Study in Selected Healthcare Facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. EC Microbiology; 17 (5): 66-76. https://www.ecronicon.com/ecmi/ECMI-17-01108.php.
• Gizachew Taddesse Akalu, Addis Tamire Woldemariam, Abate Bane Shewaye, Dereje Assefa Geleta, Abebe Habteselasie Demise, Melaku Tesfaye Debele and Kassu Desta Tullu. Burden of Hepatitis B Virus Infections and Risk Factors among Healthcare Workers in Resource Limited Setting, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. EC Microbiology. 2016; 4.4: 722-731. https://www.ecronicon.com/ecmi/pdf/ECMI-04-0000106.pdf.
• Dereje Assefa Geleta, Yoseph Cherinet Megerssa, Adugna Negussie Gudeta, Gizachew Taddesse Akalu, Melaku Tesfaye Debele and Kassu Desta Tullu. (2015) Xpert MTB-RIF assay for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in sputum specimens in remote health care facility; BMC Microbiology.15:220. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4615882/.
• Taddesse G, Habteselassie A, Desta K, Esayas S, Bane A. Association of dyspepsia symptoms and Helicobacter pylori infections in Private Higher Clinic, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ethiop Med J. 2011; 49(2):109-16. PMID: 21796910.