11 September 2025 Press releases

Four ITM alumni win Global Research Award from the Province of Antwerp

The award puts global research in the spotlight.

From left to right: Bruno Broucker (Head of Education), Ann Peters (General Manager), Mina Todorovic (Education Coordinator, Department of Clinical Sciences), Patrick Soentjens (Medical Doctor, Head of Clinic), Maria Zolfo (Education Coordinator, Department of Clinical Sciences), Kirsten Accoe (Education Coordinator, Department of Public Health), Mieke Stevens (Education Coordinator, Department of Biomedical Sciences).

Each year, the Province of Antwerp presents the Global Research Award to stimulate research on global themes. Projects are evaluated based on their development relevance, quality, and originality. Four of the 16 alumni who have received the award are from ITM.

“Graduation projects on global themes can enrich and nuance public opinion on international solidarity. They portray the Global South in a realistic and human way, breaking down misconceptions and oversimplifications. By sharing students’ findings in academic, journalistic, or policy circles, these projects can help build greater support for high-quality, fair, and sustainable global policy,” concludes provincial representative Jinnih Beels, who presented the awards.

“In today’s uncertain global environment, this Prize is more than recognition—it is an investment in skilled, socially committed professionals who can address health challenges with evidence, equity, and resilience,” said Ann Peters, General Manager of ITM. “Today we celebrate not only four exceptional researchers, but also the transformative power of science for health worldwide.”

The ITM winners

Ilhaam Ashraf

Master in Public Health (MPH)

Fernando Arnaiz Guerrero

Master in Tropical Medicine (MTM)

Wahid Fakhri Husein

Master in Global One Health (MGOH)

Abdirahman Ahmed Suleiman

Master in Public Health (MPH)

Ilhaam Ashraf (India)

Ilhaam Ashraf received the award for her graduation project “From Rhetoric to Reform: Operationalising Intersectional Health Equity in Primary Care Policy. A Scoping Review & Conceptual Framework”. In her research, Ilhaam explored how primary health care can better address overlapping vulnerabilities such as income, gender, ethnicity, and place of residence through an intersectional lens. Drawing on nearly 50 studies, she identified 17 strategies across six domains, ranging from leadership and financing to data collection and research.

Interested in how her findings can support policymakers in making health systems more fair and inclusive? Join her webinar on 25 September 2025 to learn more.

Fernando Arnaiz Guerrero (Spain)

Fernando Arnaiz Guerrero received the award for his graduation project “Intravenous Phage Therapy for Difficult-to-Treat Infections: An Individual Patient Data (IPD) Systematic Review". In his research, Fernando studied bacteriophages, or viruses that attack bacteria, as an alternative to antibiotics for infections resistant to conventional treatments. An analysis of 60 international studies indicates that intravenous administration is generally safe and often leads to improvement, though challenges remain, such as variable outcomes and immune responses.

Curious about the promise and limitations of phage therapy? Fernando will present his insights during a webinar on 9 October 2025.

Wahid Fakhri Husein (Indonesia)

Wahid Fakhri Husein received the award for his graduation project “Evaluating the Dog Vaccination Programme and Integrated Bite Case Management to Eliminate Rabies in Bali, Indonesia”. His research examined Bali’s long-standing fight against rabies, which combined mass dog vaccination with a system to better track and manage dog bites. While the bite management system proved effective and saved lives, vaccination campaigns faced gaps due to limited resources and delays. Despite these challenges, the programme is estimated to have prevented 1,100 deaths between 2008 and 2022 and remained cost-effective.

Interested in his findings? Wahid will present them in his webinar on 23 October 2025.

Abdirahman Ahmed Suleiman (Somaliland)

Abdirahman Ahmed Suleiman received the award for his graduation project “Wealth-Based Inequality in Maternal Health Service Utilisation Among Ever-Married Women of Reproductive Age in Somaliland: Secondary Analysis of the 2020 Demographic and Health Survey”. His research examined to what extent women in Somaliland have access to prenatal care and childbirth in public institutions, and how wealth influences this access.

Interested in his findings? Abdirahman will present them in his webinar on 13 November 2025.

Global Research Prize supports SDGs

Aligned with the Province of Antwerp’s policy to embed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all decisions, the Global Research Award highlights sustainability as a core value. It is a guiding principle in the provincial government’s administrative agreement, organisation, daily operations, and policy choices. The award directly supports SDG 4: Quality Education.

This edition honoured 16 students in total: four from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, three from the Institute of Development Policy (IOB-UAntwerp), one from the University of Antwerp, six from AP University College (jointly recognised for one graduation project), one from Karel de Grote Hogeschool – Sint Lucas Antwerpen, and one from Thomas More Hogeschool.

Alumni webinars

The winners are eager to tell you more about their research. Mark the dates below in your calendar!

Ilhaam Ashraf
25 September 2025, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
Fernando Arnaiz Guerrero
9 October 2025, 15:00-16:00 (CET)
Wahid Fakhri Husein
23 October 2025, 14:00-15:00 (CET)
Abdirahman Ahmed Suleiman
13 November 2025, 14:00-15:00 (CET)

Related events

13 November 2025

Online

Four ITM alumni win Global Research Award from the Province of Antwerp