Abdul Osman

Abdul Osman is an MGI graduate student in the Giri Lab. These are his answers to the Micro Biography questions:

How and when did you become interested in the field(s) of microbiology, genetics, and/or immunology?

My interest in science began early, when it was first introduced to us as “Natural Science” in elementary school in Ghana. But it was during middle school that I became more intentional about pursuing it when our course contents made it obvious that science could cure diseases.

As a child, some of my best moments were spent playing with my four friends and cousin during school break periods. Those happy times, however, were often interrupted because we frequently missed school due to illnesses. Our playtime just wasn’t the same when someone was absent. Those times, I naively thought if I could help cure diseases, maybe we wouldn’t have to miss those moments. These thoughts have always guided my decisions and eventually led me to being more interested in health and diseases. 

Although my grandmother persistently encouraged me to pursue law, I was more obsessed with learning about diseases and how to cure them. That early focus on finding ways to heal diseases is what ultimately led me to microbiology, genetics, and immunology.

Were there any particular people or events who were influential in your journey?

I’ve been fortunate to have several influential people in my journey. My entire family, particularly my mom and grandmom, always supported my ideas despite so many uncertainties. Their sacrifices made it possible for me to become the first person in my community to pursue graduate education in biomedical sciences. My two siblings were also instrumental, particularly in helping convince our family of the value of my decision to attend college.

Academically, the most influential people are my mentors, each shaping me in a unique way. I would say the most influential person is my college faculty mentor, Dr. Kwabena Amofa Sarpong, because he is the one who literally “discovered” me. He listened to my aspirations, understood my goals, and provided invaluable guidance. He helped me realize that if I truly wanted to find cures for diseases, my path wasn’t medical school but research. I’m especially grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to start conducting research in his lab as a junior in college, even though I had no prior research experience, and helping me start thinking like a scientist.

Additionally, my undergraduate thesis supervisors, Dr. Adwoa Asante-Poku, Dr. Isaac Otchere and Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, along with Prof. Eric Sampane-Donkor have been very instrumental in boosting my confidence and consistently challenging me to think beyond limits.

How did you come to be a part of this department?

I saw Michigan State University on the US news school ranking site when I was searching for the best schools that suited my interest in pursuing graduate studies. I further looked at the programs and saw that MGI had many amazing faculty members doing research on a variety of diseases. However, I decided to join MSU and MGI after speaking to a few past and current MGI grad students, because they helped me get a glimpse of the vibrant and supportive MGI community. Jake and the BMS administrative staff also played a significant role by granting me the opportunity to speak to several professors, which wasn’t the case in other institutions. Although I did not get to visit MSU before deciding to join, these experiences helped me picture how supportive the program is.

What is your main role / research area right now and why is it important?

I’m investigating neuroinflammatory processes in neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on how gut-derived metabolites and interactions between the immune system and central nervous system, or CNS, reshape cellular metabolism and drive multiple sclerosis, or MS, progression.

This work is important because it bridges immunology, microbiome, and neurodegeneration. These fields are increasingly recognized as interconnected, but how peripheral metabolic signals influence CNS inflammation is not well established. I think the findings of how dietary intake and gut-derived metabolites modulate MS disease outcomes would be generally beneficial to all neurodegenerative diseases.

How do you see your role / research evolving?

I see my research evolving into more therapeutic strategies because this research area might identify metabolic biomarkers and intervention points that could modulate disease outcomes. I also see my role expanding toward interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating immunology, metabolomics, and translational neuroscience to better understand and treat CNS disorders. Because my project focuses on mechanistic insight, in the near future, it would enable me to investigate potential drug targets emerging from this work, with the goal of translating these findings into viable therapeutic development.

What types of activities are you involved in outside of work / research?

I enjoy playing soccer and I am a member of the Spartan Lions soccer team in East Lansing. The team collaborates with the Ishmael Odamte Foundation to raise funds in support of charity work. I am also involved in mentoring prospective graduate students.

In my free time, I love watching soccer and anime and hanging out with friends. Since moving to Michigan, I’ve discovered a newfound interest in skating and ice skiing—although I’m still learning and getting the hang of it.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

One thing I didn’t get a spoiler alert for was how refreshing Michigan summers are. I walked into it with a sense of surprise and deep appreciation for feeling the sun.

One of my best experiences so far has been the night social gatherings and game nights with my MGI cohort. So, I would say that I have missed them a little.

What is next for you?

At the moment, the next thing I am thinking about is progressing and getting my preliminary exam done and becoming a candidate very soon.

What do you see as your current career trajectory?

I am not entirely sure of the exact trajectory yet, but I am committed to moving in a direction that focuses on building a strong foundation to achieve my future goal of establishing a therapeutic center for rare diseases in Africa.