Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam | Epidemiology and Biostatistics | Best Researcher Award
University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam is a biostatistician, epidemiologist, and Senior Lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Ghana. With a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, he has significant expertise in medical research, data governance, biostatistical modeling, and public health analytics. Dr. Sam has held roles including Research Development Officer and Statistician at UDS, and Senior Tutor at the University of Cape Coast. He has led multiple impactful research projects on disease trends, healthcare efficiency, and treatment adherence. Internationally engaged, he serves as Co-PI for the NIHR Global Health Group on equitable healthcare and actively contributes to workshops, editorial boards, and training programs across Africa and Asia. Dr. Sam’s work aims to enhance healthcare systems through advanced statistical applications and evidence-based practices, with a strong passion for mentoring and capacity building in research and academia.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam holds a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Anhui Medical University, China (2017–2020), a Master’s degree in Industrial Mathematics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana (2010–2012), and a BSc. in Statistics from the University of Cape Coast (2004–2008). He also earned a Higher National Diploma in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from Takoradi Polytechnic (2000–2003). In addition to his formal education, Dr. Sam has undertaken extensive global training through short courses on biostatistics, research ethics, statistical software, data management, climate science, and machine learning in countries such as Kenya, India, Nigeria, and South Africa. He also holds a diploma in Pastoral Counseling from Rhema Leadership Institute and is a ministerial candidate at Trinity Theological Seminary. These multidisciplinary credentials have shaped his expertise in statistical analysis, epidemiological modeling, and health research governance, enabling his leadership in academic and public health research domains across Africa and beyond.
Professional Experience
Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam has amassed over 15 years of academic and research experience. He currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Medical Research and Innovation at UDS. Previously, he was Research Development Officer (2016–2021) and Assistant Research Development Officer (2014–2016) at UDS. He also worked as a Senior Technician (Statistician) from 2009–2014. Concurrently, he has been a Senior Tutor at the University of Cape Coast’s Center for Distance Education since 2012. His academic contributions include teaching graduate-level courses in Biostatistics, Research Methods, and Health Statistics. Earlier in his career, he completed national service at Takoradi Polytechnic and the University of Cape Coast. His diverse roles have allowed him to bridge teaching, statistical consultancy, and research administration. Dr. Sam’s teaching and leadership roles underscore his commitment to enhancing academic excellence, research productivity, and evidence-informed policy-making in health and education systems.
Research Interests
Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam’s research focuses on applying advanced biostatistics and epidemiological methods to improve public health outcomes, particularly in resource-limited settings. His current projects explore the efficiency of healthcare delivery using data envelopment analysis, longitudinal quality of life assessments among leprosy patients, and statistical modeling of disease patterns such as cerebrospinal meningitis in Northern Ghana. He applies survival analysis, structural equation modeling, and time-series forecasting in his studies. Dr. Sam is also engaged in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, particularly in inflammatory biomarkers like myeloperoxidase in rheumatoid arthritis patients. His research supports decision-making in health policy and planning. As Co-PI of the NIHR Equi-Injury project, his work centers on equitable healthcare access for injured populations across low- and middle-income countries. Passionate about data science for health systems strengthening, Dr. Sam continuously integrates machine learning and modern analytics to address complex healthcare challenges in Africa and beyond.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Napoleon Bellua Sam has been honored with multiple prestigious awards and grants. He was named Best Postgraduate Foreign Student upon graduation from Anhui Medical University in 2020 and served as Alumni Liaison Ambassador for Ghana and Africa graduates of the university. He received a fully funded Ph.D. scholarship from the Chinese Scholarship Council in 2017. He has secured several competitive international grants, including travel and training grants from institutions such as NIHR Global Surgery Unit, NAMBARI/DSSD, and the Data Science Initiative for Africa. These funded his participation in workshops on machine learning, climate change, health systems, and statistical data analysis in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, India, and Liberia. As a Co-PI of the NIHR Global Health Group project, he is currently involved in a multi-country research program on equitable access to quality healthcare, managing a substantial grant of over £213,000. These recognitions affirm his impactful contributions to global health research.
Publications Top Notes
- Emerging role of air pollution in autoimmune diseases
CN Zhao, Z Xu, GC Wu, YM Mao, LN Liu, YL Dan, SS Tao, Q Zhang, …Autoimmunity reviews 18 (6), 607-614
- Global burden and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among adolescents and young adults in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019
SY Guan, JX Zheng, NB Sam, S Xu, Z Shuai, F PanAutoimmunity reviews 22 (8), 103361
- Demographic, dietary and physical activity predictors of general and abdominal obesity among university students: a cross-sectional study
V Mogre, R Nyaba, S Aleyira, NB SamSpringerplus 4, 1-8
- The impact of SLE on health-related quality of life assessed with SF-36: a systemic review and meta-analysis
M Gu, Q Cheng, X Wang, F Yuan, NB Sam, H Pan, B Li, D YeLupus 28 (3), 371-382
- Association between circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
SY Guan, HY Cai, P Wang, TT Lv, LN Liu, YM Mao, CN Zhao, Q Wu, …International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 22 (10), 1803-1813
- Progranulin as a potential therapeutic target in immune-mediated diseases
YJ Lan, NB Sam, MH Cheng, HF Pan, J GaoJournal of Inflammation Research, 6543-6556
- Routine sterile glove and instrument change at the time of abdominal wound closure to prevent surgical site infection (ChEETAh): a pragmatic, cluster-randomised trial in seven …
AB Andoh, AA Francis, AA Abdulkarim, AO Adesunkanmi, AA Salako, …The Lancet 400 (10365), 1767-1776
- Elevated circulating IL-17 level is associated with inflammatory arthritis and disease activity: A meta-analysis
X Zhang, Y Yuan, Z Pan, Y Ma, M Wu, J Yang, R Han, M Chen, X Hu, …Clinica Chimica Acta 496, 76-83
- Therapeutic potential of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 in autoimmune diseases
YX Yang, HH Shen, F Cao, LY Xie, GL Zhu, NB Sam, DG Wang, HF PanExpert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets 23 (12), 1015-1030