Member Profile
Membership type: full
Elodie Ekoka
Country of origin: Cameroon Currently in: South Africa, Pretoria General field of specialization: Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences-
Degrees
2015 Master Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology2010 Undergraduate Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology2022 Doctorate Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences -
Current Research Activities
Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences
- Medical Entomology - Malaria - Vector control
Publications resulting from Research:
Ekoka E, Maharaj S, Nardini L, Dahan-Moss Y, Koekemoer LL. 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling as a promising target for the chemical control of malaria vectors. Parasites & Vectors. 2021;14(1):86.
Current profession
Current professional activities type:ResearchI am investigating how the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling pathway regulates Anopheles arabiensis gut microbiota, reproduction, and immune system, in order to develop more efficient An. arabiensis control methods (e.g. paratransgenesis, vaccines, or insecticides) in South Africa.
Workshop and Conference Attended
2021 Virtual, organised by Yale University, USA Becoming a resilient scientist2021 Virtual, organised by Stanford University, USA What great leaders do2021 Virtual, organised by the Women In Malaria community Developing a portfolio of leadership skills and qualitiesAffiliations
National Institute for Communicable DiseasesSouth African Women in Science and EngineeringSouth African Clinician Scientists SocietyAmerican Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH)Presentation given
2019Hormonal regulation of the microbiome in Anopheles arabiensisWits Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaEvent: Molecular Biosciences Research Thrust (MBRT) research day2019Ecdysone signaling regulates vitellogenesis and the microbiome in Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoesGaylord National Resort and Convention centre, National Harbor, MD, USAEvent: 68th ASTMH annual meeting2019The role of ecdysone receptor in the vitellogenesis of Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoesJohn Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus, Maryland, USAEvent: The Future of Malaria Research annual symposium2018Cloning and in silico characterization of the Ecdysone Receptor in Anopheles arabiensis adult female mosquitoesNational Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South AfricaEvent: 04th Southern Africa Malaria Research Conference2018Cloning and in silico characterization of the Ecdysone Receptor in Anopheles arabiensis adult female mosquitoesWits Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, South AfricaEvent: Biennial Research Day & Postgraduate Expo2020The role of 20E signaling in Anopheles arabiensis fecundity and immunitySouth Africa, Virtual conferenceEvent: 14th Early Career Scientists Convention202120E signaling as a promising target for the chemical control of South African malaria vectorsSouth Africa, Virtual conferenceEvent: Inaugural South African Clinician Scientists conference2021Ingested antibiotics do not influence how the ecdysone receptor (EcR) regulates Anopheles arabiensis reproductive outputInternational, Virtual conferenceEvent: 1st Women in Malaria conference -
Other Awards
Jul 2019Medical Faculty Endowment FundResearch grant for postgraduate students at Wits Medical school, University of the WitwatersrandNov 2019Outstanding poster presentation (Gold medal)Outstanding poster presentation (Gold medal) at PhD/postdoc level at the 2019 MBRT research dayApr 2015Special International student Research award (Masters degree)Awarded by the University of Pretoria to an international student who reached above 70% in her degreeApr 2015Academic Honorary Colours (Masters degree)Awarded by the University of Pretoria to a student who reached at least 75% (cum laude) in her degreeApr 2013Special International student Research award (Honours degree)Awarded by the University of Pretoria to an international student who reached above 70% in her degreeApr 2012Special International student Research award (Bachelors degree)Awarded by the University of Pretoria to an international student who reached above 70% in her degreeOct 2009Golden Key International Honour Society (invited membership)Membership invitation is sent annually to the top 10% students of the University of PretoriaJul 2020South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) internship scholarship programmePhD scholarship offered to exceptional students who have demonstrated an interest in finding solutions for the diseases affecting their communities and improve the communication between scientists and the communities they serveOct 2020Most contributing/interactive participant at ECSC 2020This award is given the SAMRC scholar who contributed the most (ideas, questions, tweets, etc.) to the 14th Early Career Scientist ConventionMar 2021SAMRC internship scholarship programmePhD scholarship offered to exceptional students who have demonstrated an interest in finding solutions for the diseases affecting their communities and improve the communication between scientists and the communities they serveMar 2021Medical Faculty Endowment FundResearch grant for postgraduate students given by the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the WitwatersrandMar 2011Academic achievement bursaryBursary given by the University of Pretoria to students who have achieved at least 70% in their previous degree (in this case BSc Human Genetics).Mar 2012Academic achievement bursaryBursary given by the University of Pretoria to students who have achieved at least 70% in their previous degree (in this case BScHons Genetics).Mar 2015Academic achievement bursaryBursary given by the University of Pretoria to students who have achieved at least 70% in their previous degree (in this case MSc Genetics).
