MEET OUR EXPERTS
We have multi-disciplinary expertise with research interests spanning all aspects of life and health sciences.
PROF. NNEKA R. AGBAKOBA: Bacterial Genital tract infections and Human Probiotics
Nneka R. Agbakoba (PhD) is a medical microbiologist, whose research focuses on Bacterial Genital tract infections. She supports a multi-disciplinary researcher team here at MRL, NAU. She is known for her innovative and collaborative work on bacterial causes of vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis and cervicitis using both conventional and molecular methods. Her projects have been funded by uBiome Inc. California and TETFUND NRF. Her ongoing collaboration with Prof. Kingsley C. Anukam at the uzobiogenegenomics, Ontario Canada, led to the formation of the probiotics and metagenomics research group which supported many postgraduate students. She is involved in the human microbiome project using the 16S rRNA metagenomics techniques to detect both culturable and unculturable bacteria from various body sites/samples and in probiotics studies.
DR. IZUNNA SOMADINA OKWELOGU: Molecular Microbiology and Clinical Embryology
Izunna Somadina Okwelogu, Ph.D, is an academic staff in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi. Dr. Somadina is a seasoned Medical Laboratory Scientist & also a Clinical Embryologist with over 15 years of experience. His research niche includes Molecular Microbiological analysis, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Metagenomic Sequencing, Medical Microbiology & Parasitology. He is majorly focused on Molecular Microbiology and Clinical Embryology. He has published over 60 research scientific articles in both reputable Local and International Journals with over 346 citations.
DR. JUSTINA CHIMEZIE AKULUE: Infectious and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Justina Chimezie Akulue’s research interest covers parasitic diseases of Public Health importance with a special interest in malaria. She has participated in many scientific conferences, trainings, workshops and seminars. She has attracted grants like the Award for Institution Based Research (IBR) Tertiary Education Trust Intervention at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Dr. Justina is open to any multi- disciplinary and collaborative research approaches that are needed to understand Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and other Infectious diseases. She has collaborated with researchers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Imo State University, Owerri and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli.
PROF. GEORGE CHUKWUMA: Vaccine development, antiviral drug discovery and wastewater-based epidemiology
My research lies at the intersection of molecular virology, vaccine development, pathogen genomic surveillance, and natural product discovery. I aim to establish a link between viral genomes from human and environmental sources. This will generate a comprehensive database for monitoring epidemics, identification of novel viral strains and subtypes, and the evaluation of their dominant antigens for potential vaccine development. I also screen natural products for antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. I utilize skills in molecular virology, vaccine immunology, gene cloning and viral vector construction, antiviral drug testing, and wastewater-based epidemiology. I have collaboration with experts at the VIDO at University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Noguchi MIMR, Ghana, Norwegian Research Centre Norway and CIRCB, Yaoundé Cameroun.
PROF. CHARLES OKECHUKWU ESIMONE: Development of Biotechnological and natural products for infectious diseases
Professor of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology. He is an accomplished researcher and the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship and the Bright Contest Award for the Best African Innovative Research from the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation. His current research interests include the development of biotechnological products, such as vaccines for tropical diseases. He is also actively involved in the development of natural products for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. He has several ongoing collaborations and patents. He has made significant contributions to pharmaceutical science education, and the improvement of health outcomes in Nigeria and beyond.
MRS. JUNE ONU: Molecular profiling and immunogenetic characterization in prostate cancer
June Onu's research is centered on the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer progression, with a specific focus on characterizing the expression and clinical relevance of immune-regulatory biomarkers such as PD-1, IL-6, and CD-38 within the tumor microenvironment. She is focused on cancer immunogenetics and tumor microenvironment profiling, using prostate tissue blocks and non-immunohistochemical molecular profiling techniques, like real-time PCR. She aims to identify predictive molecular signatures that can contribute to improved diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment planning in prostate cancer, especially in low-resource settings. She is interested in translational cancer research that bridges molecular data with clinical outcomes and is open to multidisciplinary collaborations that integrate pathology, genomics, and oncology. She has ongoing academic interactions with researchers within NAU and is open to local and international collaborations in cancer biomarker discovery and molecular diagnostics.
PROF. EJEATULUCHUKWU-ALO OBI: Public health toxicology and drug discovery
Prof. Obi is a renowned pharmacologist and toxicologist whose vast career spans research, academic mentorship and international collaborations with researchers in Nigeria, the University of Michigan and Chinese Ministry of science and technology. At the MRL, he supports advanced training in toxicology-related studies, including cytotoxicity assays, phytoremediation and environmental toxicology. He also guides postgraduate researchers in experimental design, risk assessment and molecular analysis. His research niche spans heavy metal contamination in herbal supplements and food products, Bamboo-based phytoremediation and drug discovery, environmental and reproductive toxicology and wastewater studies. He is open to collaborations in these areas and in climate-smart research studies.
DR LINDA ANAGU: Molecular mechanistic studies on malaria pathogenesis
Linda Anagu primarily explores host-parasite interaction in the context of malaria to understand what factors and biological molecules are involved in the development of severe malaria. Her primary research methodologies and skills are transcriptomics, molecular cloning, SYBR green-1 assays and cell culture, which allows a measurement of the effect of manipulation of the parasite’s biological molecules on the parasite’s survival. It also enables her to identify potential biomarkers or novel targets for therapeutic intervention. She is open to any multi-disciplinary and collaborative research approaches that is needed to comprehensively understand host-parasite interaction during malaria pathogenesis and other infectious disease, and that requires her set of skills. She has ongoing collaborations with researchers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the Medical Research Council the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and LSHTM.
PROF. JOSEPH IFEANYICHUKWU IKECHEBELU: Evidence-based human reproduction & minimal Access Surgery research
Professor Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu is the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He specializes in reproductive medicine, minimally invasive surgery, and maternal health. He holds an MBBS, MSc, PhD, MD, FWACS, FICS, FAMedS and FNAmed reflecting his expertise in obstetrics and gynaecology, a trainer of trainers and gynae-endoscopy surgeon per excellence. His groundbreaking work in fertility, laparoscopic surgery, and women’s health continues to advance medical knowledge and patient care. He has trained over 300 Doctors (including Gynaecologists, Surgeons, Anaesthesiologists and Medical Officers) and over 40 Peri-operative Nurses in the field of Minimal Access Surgery. He pioneered the establishment of Minimal Access Surgery (Laparoscopy) and provision of prevention of Mother-to-child transfusion of HIV (PMTCT) services in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. He is open to collaborations.