Ghanaian pediatric oncologist Dr. Emmanuella Amoako has been named the 2026 Roux Prize winner by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), earning a US$100,000 award for her evidence-based work to improve childhood cancer care in Ghana.
The annual Roux Prize, awarded by IHME at the University of Washington School of Medicine, recognises individuals whose use of health evidence has led to measurable improvements in population health.
Dr. Amoako, Lead Pediatric Oncologist at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, was honoured for her leadership in expanding access to childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment, strengthening locally led research, and promoting evidence-based approaches to pediatric oncology in Ghana.
According to IHME, her work has helped improve early diagnosis, increase access to treatment and advance locally driven cancer research despite significant barriers to specialist care.
“Dr. Amoako has used evidence to strengthen the delivery of childhood cancer care amid significant access barriers,” said Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, Director of IHME.
“Her work translates clinical research into practical improvements across diagnosis and treatment. That is exactly the kind of evidence-informed leadership the Roux Prize was created to recognise,” he added.
In 2019, Dr. Amoako established a shared-care pediatric oncology service at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, enabling children with cancer to receive part of their treatment closer to home while remaining connected to specialist cancer centres. The service has since provided care for more than 150 children, reducing the need for families to travel long distances to access treatment.
She also developed the Community Parents Navigating Support for Early Childhood Cancer Detection (COMPASS) programme, which trains parents of childhood cancer survivors and primary healthcare workers to identify early warning signs of childhood cancer, facilitate referrals and connect patients to specialist care.
During its initial implementation, COMPASS trained 10 parent navigators and 100 healthcare workers, while reaching more than 1,000 people through community outreach activities.
Beyond clinical care, Dr. Amoako is contributing to cancer research through her work with Yemaachi Biotech, where she supports The African Cancer Atlas (TACA), one of Africa’s largest cancer genomics initiatives. The project aims to increase African representation in global cancer genomic datasets and strengthen precision oncology research across the continent.
Currently undertaking a Cancer Genetics Fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Amoako plans to apply her advanced training to strengthen childhood cancer diagnosis, cancer genetics and precision oncology services in Ghana.
She also serves as Director of Clinical Affairs at Yemaachi Biotech, Secretary of the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana and a part-time lecturer at the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences.
Dr. Amoako has previously received several international honours, including the Johnson & Johnson Global Citizen Award (2017), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) International Development and Education Award (2024) and the Pediatric Oncology Yvonne Award (2026).
As the 2026 Roux Prize recipient, she will use the US$100,000 award to expand evidence-based childhood cancer services in Ghana, strengthen pediatric oncology capacity and promote collaboration across Africa to improve equitable access to cancer diagnosis, treatment and research.
Dr. Amoako will formally receive the award at a ceremony in London on October 14, 2026.
