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

Mapping age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence in adults in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2018

Mapping age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence in adults in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2018

Mapping age- and sex-specific HIV prevalence in adults in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2018

Temitope Ojo, Joyce Gyamfi, Nessa Ryan, Emmanuel Peprah. Development of the Contextual Index of Feasibility for Early-Stage Implementation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (CATALYTIC Tool). 15th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and

The overlapping burden of the three leading causes of disability and death in sub-Saharan African children

Toward a Theory of the Underpinnings and Vulnerabilities of Structural Racism : Looking Upstream from Disease Inequities among People Who Use Drugs

Using a Syndemics Framework to Understand How Substance Use Contributes to Morbidity and Mortality among People Living with HIV in Africa : A Call to Action

2021 APHA Conference 
•       APHA Conference Moderator - HIV and Gender Oct 24, 2021
•       Moderated guest presenters on HIV, gender and syndemics

An emerging syndemic of smoking and cardiopulmonary diseases in people living with HIV in Africa

Applying the WHO ICD-MM classification system to maternal deaths in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria : A retrospective analysis from 2014–2018

Assess : A comprehensive tool to support reporting and critical appraisal of qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed methods implementation research outcomes

Characterization of Medical Conditions of Children with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States : Findings from the 2007-2018 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS)

Characterization of Neurological Complications Among Children with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States : Findings from the 2007-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

Evidence-based interventions implemented in low-and middle-income countries for sickle cell disease management : A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10–24 years, 1950–2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health : all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Paulson, K. R., Kamath, A. M., Alam, T., Bienhoff, K., Abady, G. G., Abbas, J., Abbasi-Kangevari, M., Abbastabar, H., Abd-Allah, F., Abd-Elsalam, S. M., Abdoli, A., Abedi, A., Abolhassani, H., Abreu, L. G., Abu-Gharbieh, E., Abu-Rmeileh, N. M., Abushouk, A. I., Adamu, A. L., Adebayo, O. M., … Peprah, E. (n.d.).

Publication year

2021

Journal title

The Lancet

Volume

398

Issue

10303

Page(s)

870-905

10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01207-1

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 has targeted elimination of preventable child mortality, reduction of neonatal death to less than 12 per 1000 livebirths, and reduction of death of children younger than 5 years to less than 25 per 1000 livebirths, for each country by 2030. To understand current rates, recent trends, and potential trajectories of child mortality for the next decade, we present the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 findings for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in children younger than 5 years of age, with multiple scenarios for child mortality in 2030 that include the consideration of potential effects of COVID-19, and a novel framework for quantifying optimal child survival. Methods: We completed all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality analyses from 204 countries and territories for detailed age groups separately, with aggregated mortality probabilities per 1000 livebirths computed for neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and under-5 mortality rate (U5MR). Scenarios for 2030 represent different potential trajectories, notably including potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of improvements preferentially targeting neonatal survival. Optimal child survival metrics were developed by age, sex, and cause of death across all GBD location-years. The first metric is a global optimum and is based on the lowest observed mortality, and the second is a survival potential frontier that is based on stochastic frontier analysis of observed mortality and Healthcare Access and Quality Index. Findings: Global U5MR decreased from 71·2 deaths per 1000 livebirths (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 68·3–74·0) in 2000 to 37·1 (33·2–41·7) in 2019 while global NMR correspondingly declined more slowly from 28·0 deaths per 1000 live births (26·8–29·5) in 2000 to 17·9 (16·3–19·8) in 2019. In 2019, 136 (67%) of 204 countries had a U5MR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold and 133 (65%) had an NMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold, and the reference scenario suggests that by 2030, 154 (75%) of all countries could meet the U5MR targets, and 139 (68%) could meet the NMR targets. Deaths of children younger than 5 years totalled 9·65 million (95% UI 9·05–10·30) in 2000 and 5·05 million (4·27–6·02) in 2019, with the neonatal fraction of these deaths increasing from 39% (3·76 million [95% UI 3·53–4·02]) in 2000 to 48% (2·42 million; 2·06–2·86) in 2019. NMR and U5MR were generally higher in males than in females, although there was no statistically significant difference at the global level. Neonatal disorders remained the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in 2019, followed by lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, congenital birth defects, and malaria. The global optimum analysis suggests NMR could be reduced to as low as 0·80 (95% UI 0·71–0·86) deaths per 1000 livebirths and U5MR to 1·44 (95% UI 1·27–1·58) deaths per 1000 livebirths, and in 2019, there were as many as 1·87 million (95% UI 1·35–2·58; 37% [95% UI 32–43]) of 5·05 million more deaths of children younger than 5 years than the survival potential frontier. Interpretation: Global child mortality declined by almost half between 2000 and 2019, but progress remains slower in neonates and 65 (32%) of 204 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, are not on track to meet either SDG 3.2 target by 2030. Focused improvements in perinatal and newborn care, continued and expanded delivery of essential interventions such as vaccination and infection prevention, an enhanced focus on equity, continued focus on poverty reduction and education, and investment in strengthening health systems across the development spectrum have the potential to substantially improve U5MR. Given the widespread effects of COVID-19, considerable effort will be required to maintain and accelerate progress. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Global, regional, and national sex-specific burden and control of the HIV epidemic, 1990–2019, for 204 countries and territories : the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019

Implementation science research for the scale-up of evidence-based interventions for sickle cell disease in africa : a commentary

Joyce Gyamfi, Emmanuel Peprah, Gbenga Ogedegbe. Mapping implementation strategies for delivering evidence-based hypertension interventions in low-middle income countries: Evidence from a multi-country consortium for hypertension control. American Public

Joyce Gyamfi, Siphra Tampubolon, Justin Lee, Farha Islam, Temitope Ojo, Jumoke Opeyemi, Yuki Qiao, Andi Mai, Dorice Vieira, Emmanuel Peprah. Characterization of Medical Conditions of Children with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States: Findings from t

Joyce Gyamfi, Siphra Tampubolon, Justin Lee, Farha Islam, Temitope Ojo, Jumoke Opeyemi, Yuki Qiao, Andi Mai, Dorice Vieira, Emmanuel Peprah. Characterization of Neurological Conditions of Children with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States: Findings f

Mapping subnational HIV mortality in six Latin American countries with incomplete vital registration systems

Nessa Ryan, Anya Snyder, Siphra Tampubolon, Emmanuel Peprah. Successes and challenges of intervention and implementation strategies addressing maternal health and racism in the US: A scoping review. International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Nessa Ryan, Dorice Vieira, Dena Goffman, Evan Chioma Egekeze, Anya Snyder, Magdalena Lyimo, Obiageli Nnodu, Emmanuel Peprah. Successes and challenges of intervention and implementation strategies addressing maternal health and racism in the US: A scoping

Nessa Ryan, Dorice Vieira, Temitope Ojo, Joyce Gyamfi, Emmanuel Peprah. Validating ASSESS: A comprehenSive tool to Support rEporting and critical appraiSal of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods implementation reSearch outcomes. American Public