Friday, 6 November 2026Monday–Thursday · 2–5 November 2026
UHAS Inaugural Lecture · 2026
From Mitochondria to Medicinal Plants
Advancing Health Through Translational Pharmacology
Delivered by Prof. Kwame B.N. BangaProfessor of Pharmacology · Director, Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine
11:00 AMPoster Exhibition
Cedi Auditorium, UHAS, HoUniversity of Health and Allied Sciences
Until the public lecture
30Days14Hours42Minutes
Lecture synopsis
One journey—from understanding how life produces energy to building systems that translate knowledge into better health
The lecture traces a scientific journey beginning with mitochondrial bioenergetics: how cells and muscles generate, regulate and adapt their energy supply. It then turns to oxidative stress and antioxidant pharmacology, asking when biologically plausible interventions protect tissue, fail to help, or interfere with treatment.
From there, the journey moves into evidence-based ethnopharmacology—where traditional knowledge generates research questions and rigorous science establishes identity, efficacy, mechanism, safety, quality and interactions. The final movement shows how research capacity, professional training, product development and institutions can sustain responsible translation for African health priorities.
The intellectual journey
Six connected parts
Energy
How do cells produce and regulate energy?Mitochondrial bioenergetics, muscle physiology and adaptation.
Evidence
How does plausible activity become reliable evidence?Oxidative stress, antioxidants, medicinal plants, efficacy and safety.
Capacity
What makes locally relevant research possible?Laboratories, skills, partnerships and a culture of reproducibility.
Translation
How does evidence move into responsible use?Standardisation, interactions, product development and real-world behaviour.
Institutions
How can scientific progress be sustained?Leadership, ITAM, professional training and systems for integration.
Future & gratitude
What should this journey make possible next?A forward-looking agenda grounded in mentorship, collaboration and service.
What visitors will discover
A lecture for scientists, practitioners, students and the wider public
Inside cellular energy
Why mitochondria matter, how their function is measured and why tissue and clinical context change interpretation.
Beyond antioxidant claims
Why a higher antioxidant marker does not necessarily mean a better health outcome.
From traditional knowledge to evidence
How medicinal-plant preparations move through identity, activity, mechanism, safety, quality and interaction testing.
Building translation in Africa
How laboratories, partnerships, practitioners, regulators and universities can create a responsible innovation pathway.
The human journey
The mentors, collaborators, students, family experiences and institutional milestones that shaped the scientific mission.
Poster Exhibition
Monday–Thursday · 2–5 November 2026
A four-day exhibition introduces the personal, scientific and institutional journey behind the lecture through research posters, publications, photographs and selected milestones.
Inaugural lecture week
Exhibition first. Public lecture on Friday.
Opening day
Introductory ceremony and formal opening of the poster exhibition.
Poster exhibition
Visitors explore the journey through thematic posters, research outputs and photographs.
Public lecture
The inaugural lecture at Cedi Auditorium, UHAS, Ho.
Ceremonial context
A University of Health and Allied Sciences inaugural lecture
The public lecture will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lydia Aziato. It forms part of the University’s tradition of presenting the scholarship, contribution and future vision of its professors to the academic community and the wider public.