Elvis K. Tiburu (BSc, (Kumasi), MSc/MPhil (Indiana), PhD (Miami))

Personal website: http://www.ektiburu.com/

PROFILE

Prof. Elvis K. Tiburu obtained his PhD from Miami University specializing in Biophysics in 2004.  He then went to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Institutes of Medicine in Boston, USA to pursue postdoctoral training in Professor Jerry Goopman’s Laboratory. After three years at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, he joined the Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University as an Assistant Research Professor. His responsibility at the time was to investigate the structure of G-protein coupled receptors and identify key binding sites for drug discovery purposes to treat drug abuse patients. He was a Visiting Scholar in 2012 to the Department of Biomedical Engineering, sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. During his stint as Visiting Scholar, he helped developed Graduate programs in the School of Engineering Sciences. After six months in Ghana, he returned to the USA and was later invited to join the faculty at the Department of Biomedical Engineering to help develop young talents in the field. He served for two terms as the Head of Department of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

RESEARCH

His research interest spans from structural biology to nanomaterials for drug delivery and includes;
• Structural Biology (NMR and EPR studies of macromolecules)
• Developing nanomaterials for cancer treatments
• Developing diagnostic tools for early detection of disease states
• Developing biological Interface materials for infectious disease prevention
• Natural products isolation and characterization
• Targeted drug design and release

Prof. Elvis K Tiburu has been actively involved in University wide activities including the organization of Grant Writing Workshops to encourage young scientists to develop skills in Grantsmanship. He is a member of various interviewing panels to identify talented young Scientists to pursue postdoctoral training in other Universities. He is also a regular reviewer of Agencies and Donor sponsored grants. He has over 40 peer reviewed publications and several conference abstract proceedings. He was the Vice- and President of the Ghana Biomedical Convention from 2015 to 2017.

SELECTED ​PUBLICATIONS

1. Arthur, P.K.; Yeboah, A.B.; Issah, I.; Balapangu, S.; Kwofie, S.K.; Asimeng, B.O.; Foster, E.J.; Tiburu, E.K. (2019). Electrochemical Response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Corresponds to Cell Viability upon Exposure to Dioclea reflexa Seed Extracts and Antifungal Drugs. Biosensors, 9, 45.
2. Kwofie, S. K.; Broni, E.; Teye, J.; Quansah, E.; Issah, I.; Wilson, M.D.; Miller, W.A.; Tiburu, E.K; Bonney, J.H.K. (2019).  Pharmacoinformatics-Based Identification of Potential Bioactive Compounds against Ebola Virus Protein VP24. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 103414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2019.103414.
3. Kwofie, S.K.; Enninful, K.S.; Yussif, J.A.; Asante, L.A.; Adjei, M.; Kan-Dapaah, K.; Tiburu, E.K.; Mensah, W.A.; Miller, W.A., III; Mosi, L.; Wilson, M.D. (2019). Molecular Informatics Studies of the Iron-Dependent Regulator (ideR) Reveal Potential Novel Anti-Mycobacterium ulcerans Natural Product-Derived Compounds. Molecules, 24, 2299.
4. Essel, T. Y. A., Koomson, A., Seniagya, M. O., Cobbold, G. P., Kwofie, S. K., Asimeng, B.O., Arthur, P.K., Awandare, G. and Tiburu, E. K. (2018). Chitosan composites synthesized using acetic acid and tetraethylorthosilicate respond differently to methylene blue adsorption. Polymers, 10, 466-478.
5. Sackey, T.A., Schandorf, C. Fletcher, J. J., Mensah, Y.B., Shirazu1, I., Akyea-Larbi, K.O.,  Tiburu, E. K. and Odonkor, S.T.  (2018). Cancer Risk Assessment of Patients Undergoing Computed Tomography Examination at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, 4, 861-868.
6. Dowuona, A.N.N., Yaya, A., Nyanksona, E., Efavi, J. K., Damoah, L.N.W., Dodoo-Arhin, D., Apalangya, V., Annan, E., Tiburu, E. K., Onwona-Agyeman, B. and
Tomiczek, B. (2018). Investigating triaxial electrical properties of ceramic composites for electroporcelain insulators. Journal of Ceramic Processing Research, 19, 1-6. 
7. Efavi, J.K., Kanbogtah, D., Apalangya, V.,  Nyankson, E., Tiburu, E.K. DodooArhin, D., Onwona Agyeman, B. and  Yaya, A. (2018). The effect of NaOH catalyst concentration and extraction time on the yield and properties of Citrullus vulgaris seed oil as a potential biodiesel feed stock. South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 25, 98-102.
8. Tiburu, E. K., Issah, I., Darko, M., Armah-Sekum, E. R., Gyampo A. O. S., Amoateng, K. N., Kwofie, S. K. and Awandare, G. (2018). Investigating the conformation of S100β protein under physiological parameters using computational modeling: a clue for rational drug design.
9. Yaya, A., Tiburu, E. K., Vickers, M.E., Efavi, J. K., Onwona-Agyeman, B. and Knowles, K.M. (2017).  Characterisation and identification of local kaolin clay from Ghana: A potential material for electroporcelain insulator fabrication. Applied Clay Science, 150, 125-130.
10. Anderson, D.E., Balapangu, S., Fleischer, H. N.N., Viade, R.A., Krampa, F.D., Kanyong, P., Awandare, G.A. and Tiburu, E. K. (2017). Investigating the influence of Temperature on Kaolinite-Base Synthesis of Zeolite and Urease Immobilization for Potential Fabrication of Electrochemical Urea Biosensor, Sensors, 17, 1831-1843; doi:10.3390/s17081831.
11. Tiburu, E.K., Zhuang, J., Fleischer, H. N. A., Arthur, P. K. and Awandare, G. (2017). Expression, purification and monitoring of conformational changes of hCB2 TMH67H8 in different membrane-mimetic lipid mixtures using circular dichroism and NMR techniques. Membrane, 7, 10-24.   
12. Tiburu, E. K., Salifu, A. A., Aidoo, E. O., Fleischer, H. N. A., Manu, G., A. Yaya, A., Zhou, H. and Efavi, J. K. (2017). Formation of chitosan nanoparticles using deacetylated chitin isolated from freshwater algae and locally synthesized zeolite a and their influence on cancer cell growth. Journal of Nano Research, 28, 66-77.
13. Tiburu, E. K., Mutocheluh, M., Arthur, P.K., Narkwa, P.W., Salifu, A.A., Agyei, M. A., Yeboah, R., Fleischer, H. N. A., Zhuang, J. and Awandare, G. V. (2017).  Antifungal Anti-proliferative effects of zeolites a and x on yeast pathogenic and cancer cells. Journal Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, 7, 544–555.
14. Yaya, A., Tekley, A., Annan, E., Efavi, J. K., Tiburu, E. K., Onwona-Agyeman, B. and Jensen, L. R. (2016).  Dispersion and functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTS) for nanocomposite applications. Matériaux & Techniques, 104, 607.
15. Tiburu, E. K., Kankpeyeng, B. W., Nkumbaan, S. N., Salifu A. A. and Zhuang, J. (2016). Novel nanocrystal clay materials with potential bone cells growth enhancement or inhibition characteristics in vitro, Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, 30, 45-60.
16. Efavi, J. K., Tiburu, E. K., Yaya, A., Damptey, L.A., Bowen-Dodoo, E. and Asimeng, B. (2016). Comparative synthesis of mesoporous MgO-MoO3 catalyst for potential industrial application, Journal of Ceramic Processing Research, 17, 1068-1073.
17. Tiburu, E. K., Fleischer, H. N. A., Aidoo, E. O., Salifu, A. A., Asimeng, B. O. and Zhou, H.  (2016). Crystallization of Linde Type A nanomaterials at two temperatures exhibit differential inhibition of HeLa cervical cancer cells in vitro, Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, 28, 66-77.
18. A. Yaya, A, Tiburu, E. K., Onwona-Agyeman, B, Dodoo-Arhin, D. and Efavi, J. K. (2014). A comparative study of DFT/LDA with higher levels of theory on π-π interactions:  A typical case for the benzene dimer. J. Comput. Modeling, 4, 27-42.
19. Tiburu, E.K. and Shen, L. (2014), Distance measurements and conformational analysis of sn-2-arachidonoylglycerol-membrane sample by ²H-³¹P REDOR NMR. J. Membrane Biology 247, 231-238.
20. Tiburu, E. K., Tyukhtenko, S., Zhou, H., Janero, D.R., Struppe, J. and Makriyannis, A. (2011). Human cannabinoid 1 GPCR C-terminal domain interacts with bilayer phospholipids to modulate the structure of its membrane environment. AAPS J., 13, 92-98.
21. Tiburu, E. K., Bowman, A.L. Struppe, J.O., Janero, D.R. Avraham, H.K. and Makriyannis, A. (2009). Solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics characterization of cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1) helix 7 conformational plasticity in model membranes. Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 1788, 1159-1167.
22. Tiburu, E. K., Tyukhtenko, S. Deshmukh, L., Vinogradova, O., Janero, D.R. and Makriyannis, A. (2009). Structural biology of human cannabinoid receptor-2 helix 6 in membrane-mimetic environments. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 384, 243-248. 
23. Tyukhtenko, S., Tiburu, E. K., Deshmukh, L. Vinogradova, O., Janero, D.R. and Makriyannis, A. (2009). NMR solution structure of human cannabinoid receptor-1 helix 7/8 peptide: Candidates electrostatic interactions and microdomain formation. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 390, 441-446.
24. Tiburu, E. K. (2008). Determination of the Dynamics, Structure, and Orientation of the Transmembrane Segment of ErbB2 in Model Membranes Using Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy, U.S. Army Medical Research. 1-9.
25. Tiburu, E.K., Bass, C.E., Struppe, J.O., Lorigan, G.A., Avraham, S. and Avraham, H.K. (2007). Structural divergence among cannabinoids influences membrane dynamics: a 2H solid-state NMR analysis. Biochim. Biophys. Acta.,1768(9), 2049-2059. 
26. Karp, E.S., Tiburu, E. K., Abu-Baker, S. and Lorigan, G. A. (2006). The structural properties of the transmembrane segment of the integral membrane protein phospholamban utilizing 13C CPMAS, 2H, and REDOR solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Biochim. Biophys. Acta., 1758, 772-780.
27. Tiburu, E.K., Karp, E. S., Birrane, G., Struppe, J.O., Chu, S., Lorigan, G.A., Avraham, S. and Avraham, H.K. (2006). 31P and 2H relaxation studies of helix VII and the cytoplasmic helix of the human cannabinoid receptors utilizing solid-state NMR techniques. Biochemistry, 45, 7356-7365.
28. Tiburu, E.K., Dave, P.C., Damodaran, K. and Lorigan, G.A. (2004). Probing the dynamics and side chain motion of Leucine residues in phospholamban using 2H and 15N solid-state NMR spectroscopic technique. Biochemistry, 43, 13899-13909.
29. Nusair, N. A., Tiburu, E. K., Dave, P. C. and Lorigan, G. A. (2004). Investigating fatty acids inserted into magnetically aligned phospholipid bilayers using EPR and NMR spectroscopy. J. Magn. Reson., 168, 228-237.
30. Lorigan, G. A., Dave, P. C., Tiburu, E. K., Damodaran, K., Abu-Baker, S., Karp, E. S., Gibbons, W. J. and Minto, R. E. (2004). Solid-state NMR spectroscopic studies of an integral membrane protein inserted into aligned phospholipid bilayer nanotube. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126, 9504-9505.
31. Tiburu, E. K., Dave, P. C. and Lorigan, G. A. (2004). Solid-state 2H NMR studies of the effects of cholesterol on acyl chain dynamics of spontaneously aligned phospholipid bilayers. Mag. Reson.Chem., 42, 132-138.
32. Dave, P. C., Tiburu, E. K., Damodaran, K. and Lorigan, G. A. (2004). Investigating structural changes in the lipid bilayer upon insertion of the transmembrane domain of the membrane-bound protein phospholamban utilizing 31P and 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Biophys. J., 86, 1564-1573.
33. Dave, P.C., Tiburu, E.K., Nusair, N.A. and Lorigan, G.A. (2003). Calculating order parameter profiles utilizing magnetically aligned phospholipids bilayers for 2H Solid-state NMR studies. Solid State NMR, 24, 137-149.
34. Cardon, T. B., Tiburu, E. K. and Lorigan, G. A. (2003). Magnetically aligned phospholipids bilayers in weak magnetic fields: Optimization, mechanism and advantages for X-band EPR studies. J. Magn. Reson.,161, 77-90.
35. Tiburu, E. K., Dave, P. C., Vanlerberghe, J. F., Cardon, T. B., Minto, R. E. and Lorigan, G. A. (2003). An improved synthetic and purification procedure for the hydrophobic segment of the transmembrane peptide phospholamban, Anal. Biochem., 318, 146-151.
36. Cardon, T. B., Tiburu, E. K., Padmanabhan, A., Howard, K. P. and Lorigan, G. A. (2001). Magnetically aligned phospholipids bilayers at the parallel and perpendicular orientation for Xband spin-label EPR studies. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 123, 2913-2914.
37. Tiburu, E. K., Moton, D. M. and Lorigan, G. A. (2001). Development of magnetically aligned phospholipid bilayers in mixtures of palmitoylstearoylphosphatidylcholine and dihexanoylphosphatidylcholine. Biochim. biophys. Acta, 1512, 206-214.