Prof Akanmu Sulaimon

Full Biography

Professional Background:
Akanmu Alani Sulaimon, (MB:BS, MWCP, MD, FMCPath, FAMedS) a Professor of Haematology and transfusion medicine at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos. He is also a consultant Haematologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital with a special interest in immunohaematology, haemato-oncology, and HIV medicine. He chairs the National Task Team on antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria and provides leadership for the antiretroviral services programme of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He also chairs the National technical working group on HIVDR surveillance working to implement WHO strategies for HIVDR surveys in Nigeria. He was appointed by WHO to develop a 5- year strategic plan for the implementation of HIVDR surveys and surveillance for Nigeria and worked assiduously with WHO, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research-NIMR Lagos (the Institution where he serves as an adjunct Professor in the department of human Virology) to ensure that NIMR is certified by WHO and designated National Sequencing Laboratory. As the Director of antiretroviral services for LUTH, he heads the Harvard PEPFAR investments at the hospital since 2004 including a) the clinic which has enrolled over 22,000 adults and children living with HIV (although only 7,000 are current in care) and b) the laboratory that provides viral load and DNA PCR assay to monitor antiretroviral therapy and for early infant diagnosis of HIV infection as well facilities for HBV DNA and HCV RNA assays.

His active grants include NorthWestern Nigeria HIV Associated Malignancy (NN-HAM) a five-year (2019-2024) research training grant, funded by Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, USA and re-awarded 2024-2029, Epigenomic Biomarkers of HIV-Associated Cancers in Nigeria funded by NIH/NCI, Intensive Combination Approach to Roll back HIV Epidemic (iCARE) in Nigerian Adolescents-a UH3 grant by NIH" . An ongoing trial =
REDUCING MORTALITY IN ADULTS WITH ADVANCED HIV DISEASE (REVIVE In Severely Immunocompromised HIV infected individual with CD4+ cell count lower than 100 cells/?L to test the hypothesis that Azithromycin prophylaxis, provided at study entry as a 250 mg daily tablet for 4 weeks, will reduce all-cause mortality at 24 weeks compared with placebo, in patients receiving local Antiretroviral regimen standards. He is also a key person in the RO1 grant – Immune Reconstitution Alveolar Bone Loss- a study designed to investigate the role that periodontitis and the use of ARV play in the induction of alveolar bone demineralization in HIV infected persons to pave way for clinical intervention, management or prevention of tooth demineralization and tooth loss. He received Harvard University Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa March 26,2021 to implement SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in healthcare workers in Nigeria.

He was a co-Investigator on the BRAINS MEPI-J grant, the U54 Epigenetics grant, the DHHS/CDC grants to Implement Programs for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other international grants including the Dutch government grant for Pan-African Studies for Evaluation of Resistance. (PASER studies). Currently, he serves as a mentor in the Forgaty consortium (Harvard, Boston, Northwestern universities, and the University of Mexico-HBNU) Global Health training programme developed to promote mentored research among junior faculties LMIC Universities.

He is a reviewer for many biomedical journals. He is well published with over 200 articles appearing in biomedical journals.

Areas of Expertise:
- Leadership
- Healthcare / Research
- Policy Development

Career Highlights:
- Extensive professional experience
- Leadership in sector development
- Contribution to national programmes

Full Narrative:
Akanmu Alani Sulaimon, (MB:BS, MWCP, MD, FMCPath, FAMedS) a Professor of Haematology and transfusion medicine at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos. He is also a consultant Haematologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital with a special interest in immunohaematology, haemato-oncology, and HIV medicine. He chairs the National Task Team on antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria and provides leadership for the antiretroviral services programme of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He also chairs the National technical working group on HIVDR surveillance working to implement WHO strategies for HIVDR surveys in Nigeria. He was appointed by WHO to develop a 5- year strategic plan for the implementation of HIVDR surveys and surveillance for Nigeria and worked assiduously with WHO, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research-NIMR Lagos (the Institution where he serves as an adjunct Professor in the department of human Virology) to ensure that NIMR is certified by WHO and designated National Sequencing Laboratory. As the Director of antiretroviral services for LUTH, he heads the Harvard PEPFAR investments at the hospital since 2004 including a) the clinic which has enrolled over 22,000 adults and children living with HIV (although only 7,000 are current in care) and b) the laboratory that provides viral load and DNA PCR assay to monitor antiretroviral therapy and for early infant diagnosis of HIV infection as well facilities for HBV DNA and HCV RNA assays.

His active grants include NorthWestern Nigeria HIV Associated Malignancy (NN-HAM) a five-year (2019-2024) research training grant, funded by Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, USA and re-awarded 2024-2029, Epigenomic Biomarkers of HIV-Associated Cancers in Nigeria funded by NIH/NCI, Intensive Combination Approach to Roll back HIV Epidemic (iCARE) in Nigerian Adolescents-a UH3 grant by NIH" . An ongoing trial =
REDUCING MORTALITY IN ADULTS WITH ADVANCED HIV DISEASE (REVIVE In Severely Immunocompromised HIV infected individual with CD4+ cell count lower than 100 cells/?L to test the hypothesis that Azithromycin prophylaxis, provided at study entry as a 250 mg daily tablet for 4 weeks, will reduce all-cause mortality at 24 weeks compared with placebo, in patients receiving local Antiretroviral regimen standards. He is also a key person in the RO1 grant – Immune Reconstitution Alveolar Bone Loss- a study designed to investigate the role that periodontitis and the use of ARV play in the induction of alveolar bone demineralization in HIV infected persons to pave way for clinical intervention, management or prevention of tooth demineralization and tooth loss. He received Harvard University Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa March 26,2021 to implement SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in healthcare workers in Nigeria.

He was a co-Investigator on the BRAINS MEPI-J grant, the U54 Epigenetics grant, the DHHS/CDC grants to Implement Programs for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of HIV/AIDS in the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other international grants including the Dutch government grant for Pan-African Studies for Evaluation of Resistance. (PASER studies). Currently, he serves as a mentor in the Forgaty consortium (Harvard, Boston, Northwestern universities, and the University of Mexico-HBNU) Global Health training programme developed to promote mentored research among junior faculties LMIC Universities.

He is a reviewer for many biomedical journals. He is well published with over 200 articles appearing in biomedical journals.