Dr. Emmanuella Amoako, a pediatric oncologist at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in Ghana, has been recognized as the IHME’s 2026 Roux Prize winner, a prestigious award recognizing her transformative leadership in advancing childhood cancer care. The prize, valued at $100,000, will fuel her efforts to significantly improve early diagnosis, expand access to treatment, and bolster locally-led cancer research within Ghana.
Dr. Amoako’s work has been instrumental in addressing critical access barriers to care, particularly in a country where specialist services are concentrated in a few urban centers. Prior to this, her leadership in Cape Coast’s pediatric oncology service expanded access to treatment for over 150 children annually, significantly reducing the time families spend traveling to specialized care. This expansion has been driven by a dedicated focus on evidence-based practices.
Prior to the Roux Prize, Dr. Amoako spearheaded the establishment of a shared-care pediatric oncology service at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, bringing treatment closer to families who previously faced significant travel distances. Since opening, the service has provided local care for over 150 children, supporting adherence and strengthening coordination across facilities.
This initiative has directly translated clinical research into practical improvements across diagnosis and treatment. As the IHME Director, David Murray stated, ‘Dr. Amoako’s work translates clinical research into practical improvements across diagnosis and treatment. That is exactly the kind of evidence-informed leadership the Roux Prize was created to recognize.’
Recognizing the urgent need for improved childhood cancer survival rates exceeding 80% globally, compared to less than 30% in many African settings, Dr. Amoako’s work is particularly crucial. The Roux Prize will support her efforts to expand pediatric oncology services, improve early detection, enhance workforce development, and facilitate collaborative research across Ghana. Specifically, the award will enable her to strengthen the delivery of childhood cancer care, ensuring children receive safer, more dignified, and longer-term support.
The initiative includes developing COMPASS, a community-driven program designed to reduce delays in childhood cancer diagnosis and referrals, training 10 parent navigators and 100 health care workers, and launching a digital platform tracking cases, timelines, and stages of diagnosis. This program has already reached over 1,000 people, representing a significant increase in community engagement.
Dr. Amoako’s contributions extend beyond clinical practice; she is actively collaborating with governments, regional institutions, and partners to increase investment in pediatric oncology services, bolster workforce development, and ensure equitable access to innovation in diagnostics and treatment across the continent. The Johnson & Johnson Global Citizen Award, awarded in 2017, and the ASCO International Development and Education Award, demonstrate the significance of her impactful work. She is currently a Cancer Genetics Fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, where she’s training to apply evidence-informed strategies to strengthen childhood cancer diagnosis, cancer genetics, and precision oncology in Ghana. Her work with Yemaachi Biotech focuses on building genomic resources representing African populations, promoting evidence-based precision oncology, and accelerating discoveries that improve patient care across the continent.
Dr. Amoako will be recognized at an award ceremony on October 14 in London, following the celebration of the Roux Prize. IHME will begin accepting nominations for the 2027 Roux Prize on November 1, 2026, open to individuals from all countries and sectors, including government, civil society, research, and frontline health care. The Roux Prize is a celebration of innovation in disease burden research, highlighting the power of evidence to transform lives.
Watch Related Video
Source: Graphic Online
