Emmanuel Peprah

Associate Professor of Global and Environmental Health

Professional overview

Dr. Emmanuel Peprah’s research interests lie at the confluence of understanding what, why, and how some evidence-based interventions work in some populations and not others. The programattic focus of his research is understanding the contextual factors that influence the burden of co-morbidity in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease risk factors and mental health. As the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to increase, there is an opportunity to integrate NCD management into HIV care with implemention strategies that leverage the global infrasturcture designed to improve care delivery for PLWH. Dr. Peprah has built collaborations with multidisciplinary teams of investigators, both nationally and internationally, to address the high burden of comorbidity in PLWH globally.  He is also the founder of the Baakoye Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization dedicated to serving people in sub-Saharan Africa, and co-founder of the Washington Leaders Index (WLI), which aims to empower the next generation of emerging leaders through active, innovative, and inclusive leadership programs. Both nonprofit organizations serve the needs of children and people globally within the domains of education and health.

Before joining GPH, Dr. Peprah was a senior program official at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he worked with senior leadership to oversee strategic planning, initiative development, and implementation of research priorities in the areas of translational research, implementation science, and global health. He led and managed HIV/AIDS programs and a $10 million portfolio as part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine Program. He was instrumental in launching the Human, Heredity, and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Initiative, a multimillion trans-NIH program, and served on its executive board. Dr. Peprah has received several awards for strategic planning, management, and implementation of large-scale NIH programs.

Education

BS, Biology, Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX

PhD, Molecular Biology & Biomedical Science, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN

Honors and awards

NIH Director’s Award for Leadership H3Africa Stage II Team: For exceptional leadership and dedication in implementing Stage II of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa program (2018)

NHLBI’s Director's for Outstanding Service (2018)

NHLBI’s Director's for Outstanding Service Partnership/Collaboration Award for bringing multiple disciplines together to understand HIV-related co-morbidities and prepare for the challenges presented by the complex conditions of the new HIV era (2018)

NHLBI’s Director's for Outstanding Translational Science Award for demonstrating exemplary leadership and service in advancing translation research (2017)

Federal Service Career Promotion (2016)

NHLBI’s Director's for Outstanding Translational Science Award as part of the Center for Translational Research and Implementation Science (CTRIS) Leadership Team for demonstrating exemplary leadership and service in advancing CTRIS’s translation (2016)

NHLBI’s Director's for Breath of Fresh Air (Innovation) award for exemplary work evaluating NHLBI’s support for multi-project research grants and proposing creative and innovative enhancements to the NHLBI’s program project grants (PPG) (2016)

NHLBI’s Director's for Learning Environment Award for fostering a learning environment through effective administration, knowledge sharing, and thoughtful implementation of the NHLBI R35 Program (2016)

NHLBI’s Director's for Partnership/Collaboration in recognition of outstanding collaborative efforts in developing a conceptual framework for the NHLBI R35 program to provide greater funding stability and flexibility to investigators (2015)

NIH Director's Common Fund Leadership Award for the NIH Common Fund Early Independence Award Program (2013)

NIH Director's Award as a member of the Common Fund Global Health Leadership Team for outstanding service in the coordination of the Common Fund Global Health Initiatives (2012)

Certificate of Appreciation for Invited Presenter, NIH Seminar Series, STEM Careers (2012)

Certificate of Appreciation for Invited Presenter, Washington Mathematics Science Technology Public Charter High School, Washington, DC (2012)

Leadership Award, Postdoctoral Fellows Research Symposium Committee, Emory University, Atlanta, GA (2008)

Areas of research and study

Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence-based Programs

HIV/AIDS

Implementation science

Inter-organizational Networks

Translational science

Publications

Publications

Depression Risk and Urban Environmental Determinants in a Rapidly Urbanising African City: A Spatial Bayesian Analysis in Accra, Ghana

Geographic and Temporal Differences in Sickle Cell Disease Hospitalizations in New York State

Geographic and Temporal Differences in Sickle Cell Disease Hospitalizations in New York State from 2009–2022.

Mapping Hypertension Risk and Its Socioecological Determinants in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA): A Spatial Bayesian Analysis.

SickleInAfrica Consortium: A Seven-Country Study Evaluating the Performance of Dried Blood Spot Point-of-Care Testing in Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease

A call to integrate mental health support into Sickle Cell Disease care: The value of task-sharing in low- and middle-income countries

An implementation trial to mAnage siCkle CELl disEase through incReased AdopTion of hydroxyurEa in Nigeria (ACCELERATE): Study protocol

Barriers and facilitators to implementing a task-sharing mental health intervention for Sickle Cell Disease populations in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)

Burden of hemoglobinopathies and hemolytic anemias in the World Health Organization African region, 2000-2021: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study

Downward accountability mechanism effectiveness by non-governmental organizations in low- and middle-income countries : A qualitative systematic review

Downward accountability mechanism effectiveness by non-governmental organizations in low- and middle-income countries: A qualitative systematic review

Ethical and regulatory requirements for conducting researcher-driven large-scale multinational genetic haematological studies: the INHERENT experience

Evaluating implementation research outcomes for a task-sharing mental health intervention : A systematic review of the Friendship Bench

Evaluating implementation research outcomes for a task-sharing mental health intervention: A systematic review of the Friendship Bench

Evaluating the feasibility, adoption, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of telemedicine interventions in managing COVID-19 within low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs): A systematic review

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Failed generating bibliography.

Publication year

2025

Journal title

JAMA neurology

Volume

82

Issue

8

Page(s)

765-87

Abstract

Abstract

Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) represents the third most common stroke type with unique etiologies, risk factors, diagnostics, and treatments. Nevertheless, epidemiological studies often cluster SAH with other stroke types leaving its distinct burden estimates obscure.

Nature’s toll: The effect of climate anomalies and ambient air pollution on spontaneous miscarriage in Ghana. Journal: Communications Earth & Environment

Strengthening global partnerships for sustainable sickle cell disease care : insights from SickleInAfrica at the 77th United Nations General Assembly and the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit

Strengthening global partnerships for sustainable sickle cell disease care: insights from SickleInAfrica at the 77th United Nations General Assembly and the US-Africa Leaders' Summit

Syndemic interactions between HIV/AIDS, mental health conditions, and non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of contributing factors

The CATALYTIC tool to assess feasibility of implementing evidence-based interventions for cardiovascular diseases in 46 low- and middle-income countries: survey outcomes and tool reliability testing

The importance of funding and investment to strengthen data science in Africa

The importance of funding and investment to strengthen data science in Africa

Acceptability, barriers and facilitators of using dried blood spots-point-of-care testing for sickle cell disease in Africa : an implementation science protocol for a multinational qualitative study

Acceptability, barriers and facilitators of using dried blood spots-point-of-care testing for sickle cell disease in Africa: an implementation science protocol for a multinational qualitative study