Grant Pitch Proposal

Audience: Cornell University Alumni Community

Fundraising: Grant Support to Establish Three Biosafety Training Laboratories in Nigeria

Background:

I am appealing for support for a transformative public health initiative in Nigeria: the establishment of three Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) training laboratories through my company, Biosafety Management Company. With deep academic roots at Cornell University, Oxford, and Harvard, and a proven track record of leading complex biosafety infrastructure projects across Nigeria, I am uniquely positioned to deliver this critical initiative.

Your support, as a Cornell alumnus, will directly contribute to building local biosafety training capacity, strengthening infectious disease diagnostics, and protecting frontline health professionals across West Africa.

About the Founder:

As a graduate of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, I completed an MSc in Biostatistics and Data Science with impactful research at the Center for Global Health. My academic journey includes advanced immunology training at the University of Oxford and global infectious disease training at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. I have co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and contributed to research on Lassa Fever, HIV, COVID-19, and emerging viral threats. Drawing on a unique blend of academic excellence, hands-on virology experience, and public health leadership, I founded Biosafety Management Company to bridge the infectious disease diagnostic, infrastructure, and biosafety gap in Nigeria: a country disproportionately affected by Lassa Fever, HIV, tuberculosis, and other high-consequence pathogens.

Track Record of Impact:

Biosafety Management Company has:

• Designed/remodeled two BSL-2 laboratories at the Taraba State Specialist Hospital, Taraba State, and set up one BSL-2 laboratory at the General Hospital Takum, Taraba State. These three laboratories contributed to taking Taraba State from zero testing capacity to full in-state testing capacity during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Designed and set up the first state government-owned, purpose-built BSL-2 laboratory in Benue State for the Benue State Government. This laboratory contributed to strengthening infectious diseases testing in Benue State.

• Trained 60 lab professionals and health officials, including personnel from the Nigerian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Army Medical Research Directorate – Africa, the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, and the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

Each project has delivered measurable public health outcomes and earned high-level commendation from U.S. and Nigerian government agencies.

In the course of our work, we observed a significant gap in infectious disease control: many frontline medical and laboratory personnel lacked the training to safely handle infectious materials in a way that prevents unintended release to the community and poses a risk to public health. In response, we began providing biosafety training to laboratory and medical personnel.

We now seek funding to expand this training initiative by building and equipping three BSL2 training laboratories in Nigeria: located in Lagos, Abuja, and Abia, to train laboratory and medical personnel at scale.

The Proposal: Three New Biosafety Training Laboratories

We are now scaling this impact. Our vision is to build three strategically located BSL2 biosafety training laboratories in Nigeria, specifically designed for:

• Capacity building of laboratory personnel across West Africa.

• Delivery of certified biosafety and biosecurity training based on WHO standards.

• Supporting regional outbreak preparedness, surveillance, and diagnostics.

Each facility will be equipped with:

• Modular classrooms for theory instruction

• Fully functional wet labs for practical training

• Decontamination and PPE training areas

• Advanced biosafety training curriculum, tailored to regional needs

Why Support This? Why Now?

• Biosafety saves lives: Inadequate training and facilities contribute to lab-acquired infections and delayed outbreak responses. In addition, this can lead to the unintended spread of infectious materials to the community, which can drive community-level spread of infectious diseases.

• Nigeria is a biosafety priority zone, as a hotspot for Lassa Fever, with increasing zoonotic spillover risks.

• Cornell alumni have a legacy of global leadership, and this is an opportunity to uphold that legacy in global health and security.

Budget and Support Needed

We are seeking USD750,000 in total grant support, or USD250,000 per laboratory. Funds will cover:

• Construction/remodeling and equipment procurement

• Curriculum development

• Faculty recruitment and training-of-trainers program

• Operational costs for 18 months

All donors will receive:

• Impact reports

• Recognition in lab infrastructure

• Invitations to stakeholder briefings and facility tours (virtual or in-person)

Call to Action

• As a proud Cornellian, I am inviting my fellow alumni to invest in sustainable, African-led biosafety infrastructure. Your support will not only build labs but also empower health systems and protect lives across the continent.

• Let’s build a safer future together.

• Please kindly reach out to me via email, phone, or LinkedIn if you are interested in supporting this initiative and/or if you need more information.

Kind regards,

Chiomah Ezeomah, MSc (Oxford), MSc (Cornell)

Founder & Lead Consultant, Biosafety Management Company

| +234-8162997083 | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chiomahezeomah

Resume

I am an immunologist and a biostatistician/ data scientist / analyst who is passionate about infectious diseases research. I am particularly interested in viruses like SARS-CoV-2, Lassa, Ebola and their mechanisms of cellular damage in organ systems in the body like the brain. I hold a masters degree in Biostatistics and Data Science from Cornell University, and a second masters degree in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford.

For my undergraduate studies, I studied biological sciences, mathematics and economics at the University at Buffalo. I then worked at the Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch for over two years where I conducted research on the following viruses: Lassa virus, Junin virus, Zika virus, Influenza virus, as well as HIV.

My resume is available here.