Emmanuella Wiafe is on a Mission to Cure Cancer

For Emmanuella Wiafe, the journey of nearly 5,000 miles from Accra, Ghana to Portland, Maine, was spurred by a deeply personal experience. It propelled her to make the most of her time at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute, even bringing her to the stage at Merrill Auditorium where, on June 13, she’ll not only graduate, but will deliver remarks as the Class of 2025’s student speaker. Not one to rest on her laurels, Emmanuella has already started her full-time role as a research associate at the MaineHealth Institute for Research.

“After studying medical laboratory science at university, I worked at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, and joined the frontline COVID-19 team at The Kotoka International Airport,” Emmanuella explained. “It was during this time that my aunt died of breast cancer and losing her made me want to understand more about cancer and contribute to curing it.” 

Fast forward to 2023, and Emmanuella attended Northeastern University’s Global Leadership Summit in Accra, Ghana. She had thought about applying to Northeastern, and her experience at the event convinced her to take the next step. She was accepted to the College of Science to pursue a master’s in biotechnology. Learning about the Alfond Scholars Initiative at the Roux Institute made the decision to enroll easy. 

“When I exited the plane in New York, even the breeze felt different,” Emmanuella said, reflecting back on her first moments in the United States. The close-knit nature of the Roux Institute’s community became clear to Emmanuella before she set foot on campus. “Elorm Ninsin, a fellow student, picked me up at the airport, and I stayed with Abigail Ansah, another student, until my accommodations were ready.” When she made it to campus, Emmanuella wasted no time becoming part of the community.  

It’s a theme she reflects on often, from fellow students to faculty members, including professors and lecturers Michael Wilczek, Christoper Okonkwo, Ilka Pinz, Dave Yarin, and lecturer Salli Cheever. “Every professor I’ve had has made an impact on my life. People really are willing to help you at every step of the way.” Championing graduate student engagement, inclusion, and representation, serving as a representative on Northeastern’s Graduate Student Council for the College of Science was another way Emmanuella contributed to her community. 

A breakthrough came when she had the opportunity to share her interest in cancer research. Emmanuella secured a research assistant position in the lab of Kiran Vanaja, bioengineering assistant research professor. Elorm and Emmanuella spent months researching “The Implications of PTEN Regulation in Breast Cancer Resistance.” Presenting this research at The Roux Institute’s Student Showcase enabled Emmanuella to honor a deeper motivation behind her studies, discover the strength of her own voice, and affirmed her path forward in scientific research.  

In May 2024, Emmanuella joined Marsha Rolle, BioPILOT lab director, associate director of life science programs, and professor of chemical engineering, in launching the BioPILOT Lab in partnership with the University of Southern Maine. The lab supports early-stage life science companies by providing access to advanced capital equipment for prototyping and process analysis. “This gave me the opportunity to work with Maine-based companies like Salmonics LLC and Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, where I drafted research protocols, conducted experiments, and ran product validation tests.” 

When the time came to seek out a co-op, a defining component of Northeastern’s experiential learning model, she connected with representatives from the MaineHealth Institute for Research.  During her co-op at MHIR’s Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), Emmanuella supported translational research focused on advancing diagnostic science by sourcing biospecimens, performing immunoassays, and conducting high throughput testing across areas like cardiology, oncology, infectious disease, and metabolic disorders. Emmanuella describes their work as deeply meaningful and impactful. 

The co-op launched the next phase of her career. Emmanuella is now a full-time Research Associate at MaineHealth Institute for Research, continuing her work with the CAST team. “I love my team at MaineHealth,” she shared. “Everyone brings something valuable to the table, and you’re constantly learning.” 

For Emmanuella, the opportunity to apply the skills she gained through Northeastern’s biotechnology program in a setting that prioritizes patient-centered research has been both fulfilling and inspiring. “Knowing that my work contributes to research with real-world impact, helping patients and advancing healthcare, is what makes it all worth it.”