Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
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Thumbi Ndung’u is a faculty member at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in Durban, South Africa; Professor and Victor Daitz Chair in HIV/TB Research at the HIV Pathogenesis Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal; Programme Director for the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE); Professor of Infectious Diseases at University College London, UK; Associate Member of the Ragon Institute; Adjunct Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; and Provost's Visiting Professor of HIV Virology and Immunology at Imperial College London, UK.
He is the recipient of several awards for scientific excellence and leadership contributions, including the South African Medical Research Council Gold Scientific Achievement Award, the Leadership Award in Public Health Practice from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, and the KT Jeang Retrovirology Prize in recognition of outstanding work on HIV. He has also received grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the Science for Africa Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the South African National Research Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and others.
His research focuses on understanding interactions between HIV and the immune system and how these may be harnessed and translated for HIV prevention or cure.
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In this episode, he talks about his journey with HIV and immunology that has spanned at least three decades and birthed several groundbreaking contributions, the most recent being Africa’s first HIV cure trial for women living with the virus.
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To participate in our Trivia questions, visit our social media platforms via the links below.
- ImmunoAfrica: linktr.ee/immuno.africa
- Immunopaedia: immunopaedia.org.za
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Timestamps:
00:00 – podcast intro
01:05 – guest intro
02:00 – starting out, maximising opportunities: from a coffee farm to veterinary school
05:19 – getting into immunology research
07:16 – ImmunoAfrica x Immunopaedia quiz interlude I
08:40 – making a mark in immunology, from Nairobi to Harvard | isolating subtype C strain of HIV
12:15 – misconceptions and big questions in HIV research
17:30 – research and contributions leading up to the HIV Cure Project
21:04 – convincing people living with HIV to stay off medications (antiretroviral therapy, ART) for trial
23:51 – integrating socioeconomic empowerment into biomedical research | The FRESH project
25:45 – designing, conducting the HIV Cure trial | more on The FRESH project
31:50 – major findings from, next steps for the HIV Cure trial
39:40 – why only women were recruited for the cure trial
41:33 – adverse outcomes in participants
43:40 – ImmunoAfrica x Immunopaedia quiz interlude II
45:00 – coming up with new ideas
46:52 – visibility for scientists and its role in strengthening local R&D
53:32 – experience with mentorship: paying it forward
56:55 – final remarks
57:42 - outro
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
--
Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The seventh and final episode in the series features Professor Mohlopheni Jackson Marakalala who is currently the Director of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Centre for Tuberculosis Research at Stellenbosch University (SU), South Africa.
Marakalala completed his PhD in Chemical Pathology at the University of Cape Town (2008), receiving the Bronte Stewart Research Prize for the most meritorious PhD thesis. He then completed a total of 8 year postdoctoral training; 4 years in the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) at UCT and 4 years in Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
Between 2016 and 2019, he was a Senior Lecturer at UCT and a Visiting Scientist at Harvard. From 2019 until his recent appointment as the Unit Director of the SAMRC Centre for TB Research, he has been a Wellcome Trust International Fellow and Faculty member at Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) and an Associate Professor at University College London (UCL).
His laboratory’s primary interest is on infectious diseases, particularly immunopathogenesis of Tuberculosis, with an aim of developing host-directed therapies targeting mediators of lung damage. His other interests are in understanding strategies utilized by mycobacteria to survive various arms of the immune system.
Work in his lab has been funded by grants from SA Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Personal achievements include recognition as a ‘Rising Star’ at the 2019 Grand Challenges meeting, NRF Emerging Researcher Excellence Award (2018), SA Medical Research Council Scientific Merit award (Silver medal) (2016); UCT 2016 College of Fellows Young Researcher Award; and the Next Einstein Forum (2016) Fellowship.
In this episode, he talks about how we may rethink funding for TB research in light of recent cuts which have dealt the field a heavy blow. In addition, he shares some of the plans and perspectives he brings to his recent role as Director of the SAMRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research.
Timestamps:
00:00 - intro
01:35 - journey to current role and work in TB
03:42 - qualities and factors that have shaped his career
06:21 - contributions to TB research; training younger scientists
12:14 - funding cuts and impact on his ongoing work
15:29 - does external funding limit what aspects of TB research can be studied in Africa?
20:49 - what alternative funding models do we start exploring to support local TB research?
26:32 - the role of scientists and scientific councils
29:40 - will Africa have the market to foster bio-entrepreneurship?
33:44 - plans and perspectives for current role - Director of the SAMRC-SU Centre for Tuberculosis Research
40:05 - closing remarks; future of TB in Africa
42:40 - Outro
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
--
Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The sixth and penultimate episode in the series features Fatoumatta Darboe. Originally from The Gambia, Fatoumatta currently works as an Assistant Professional Researcher at the University of California, San Francisco in the United States.
Darboe ventured into TB research during her master's programme at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), where she also completed a postdoctoral training.
For her PhD at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), she sought to define TB correlates of disease risk in several South African cohorts of individuals co-infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This work resulted in the validation and publication of an 11-gene biomarker (Darboe11), which predicted and diagnosed TB disease, and predicted treatment responses in several TB/HIV co-infected cohorts.
In this episode, she takes us on her long-standing relationship with TB, including how her interest in TB-HIV coinfection developed. She shares updates on ongoing projects exploring a fascinating pathway implicated in TB and HIV and immunogenic antibodies for TB.
Additionally, she talks about what fuels her advocacy for female education and representation in leadership, and why it's important to audit one's "circle" according to their goals.
Timestamps:
00:00 - intro
01:17 - early journey, getting into TB research
06:46 - navigating growth with minimal supervision
10:20 - journey to SATVI; PhD research highlights
14:07 - current projects
14:48 - TB-HIV co-infection; TB risk in PLWH
17:45 - understanding the kynurenine-tryptophan (KT) pathway in HIV/TB
19:00 - is the KT pathway relevant in TB aside from HIV?
21:13 - potential application of findings
23:40 - using bacteriophage to unravel TB antibody responses
28:33 - which TB strains are targeted in antibody response study?
29:56 - challenges, barriers, and sacrifices
38:00 - closing remarks
38:58 - Outro
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
--
Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The fifth episode in the series features Anele Gela, a Research Officer at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town, where he studies host determinants of protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).
Anele first ventured into TB research during his postdoctoral fellowship at SATVI. He completed his PhD degree in Lund University, Sweden, studying asthma, and previously worked with coronaviruses.
During his post-doctoral training, he was actively involved in several projects aimed at addressing the role of donor-unrestricted T (DURT) cells in TB immunity and vaccination.
In his current role as a research officer, he provides scientific and operational oversight of immunological and laboratory aspects of TB vaccine projects. One such project is the H56:IC31 TB vaccine trial, which was conducted at multiple sites in South Africa and Tanzania.
In this episode, we talk about his journey into studying vaccine immune responses for TB, why vaccines matter, and the need for stronger public engagement in the field.
Timestamps:
00:00 - intro
01:40 - why vaccines are important; different vaccine types
06:11 - career journey; from coronaviruses to TB
12:20 - PhD research and key findings
14:15 - key TB-related projects
19:40 - how clinical trials run; projects and findings
25:33 - more findings, lessons from trials
28:09 - on TB revaccination and BCG effectiveness
31:33 - challenges with getting a TB vaccine
36:44 - public engagement in TB vaccine clinical trials
38:26 - engaging with public and private agencies to attract investment in biomedical research and development
42:15 - Outro
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
--
Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The fourth episode in the series features Solomon Jauro, a veterinarian and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, where he studies tuberculosis in non-human primates (macaque models).
Solomon trained as a veterinarian and obtained his master's degree at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria, before proceeding to the University of Pretoria, South Africa, for his PhD.
Unlike previous guests, Solomon's work on TB only took off during his postdoctoral fellowship, as his earlier work had focused on antimicrobial resistance and anthrax vaccine immune responses.
In this episode, he talks about how his research on macaques co-infected with TB and simian immunodeficiency virus, SIV (a HIV-like virus) could shape current understanding of human TB-HIV coinfection, in the context BCG vaccine-induced immune responses.
In addition to sharing what it'd take for his findings to be translated into humans, he also reflected on why African institutions should create structures that foster collaboration, particularly among young scientists.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:13 - MSc/PhD project; getting into TB
02:03 - More on PhD project: anthrax vaccines
05:25 - Macaques as 'ideal' models for understanding human TB
08:51 - TB-SIV co-infection in macaques
10:32 - Evaluating TB/HIV immune responses from intravenous vs intradermal BCG administration I
16:33 - BCG'osis in humans
18:09 - Evaluating TB/HIV immune responses from intravenous vs intradermal BCG administration II
21:48 - SIV viral load and BCG-induced TB protection
29:24 - Attenuated BCG for juvenile macaques
32:08 - Translating findings from macaque models to human patients
32:56 - Does BCG'osis associate with vaccination routes?
36:00 - If not TB, then what?
38:00 - Closing remarks: how African institutions can foster collaboration among scientists
41:20 - Outro
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
--
Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The third episode in the series features Paul Ogongo, an assistant professional researcher and former postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco.
Originally from Kenya, Paul trained in his home country and South Africa before moving to UCSF for a postdoctoral position. His work has mostly explored T cell responses to TB, highlighting the roles of an important immune cell regulator, IL-17, in the control or progression of the disease.
At UCSF, Paul's investigation of T cell-associated immune responses to TB seeks to unravel distinct antigens that could improve future vaccine design against TB. Till date, BCG remains the only approved vaccine against TB; although several other potential candidates are in clinical trials.
In this episode, Paul shares key highlights from his work on TB antigens and the promise they hold for design of vaccines that could prevent TB disease progression. He also reflects on some of his experiences with failure and the key advances he anticipates in TB immunology over the next decade.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:39 - Unravelling the TB spectrum (active TB vs. subclinical TB; TB exposure vs. TB control)
08:02 - On why 'latent TB' isn't truly 'latent'
09:15 - Investigating active TB (PhD research project and findings)
16:09 - Studying TB at the lungs vs in blood
20:09 - Evaluating T cell responses to rare variable antigens (findings and implications)
32:04 - TB in diabetic individuals
36:22 - Dealing with failure
41:49 - Closing remarks: TB immunology over the coming decade
46:43 - Outro
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
--
Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The second episode in the series features Simon Kimuda, a postdoctoral researcher in the Doores Lab at Kings College London. His work has largely focused on understanding antibody responses to tuberculosis, an area of research which remains underexplored in the field.
Simon leverages techniques in immunology and molecular biology to understand immune correlates of protection and inform the design of novel vaccines against respiratory conditions such as tuberculosis and hantavirus infections.
Outside of research, he actively contributes to mentorship and career development initiatives, enabling access to career growth opportunities for young scientists.
This episode explores Simon's journey in TB immunology, particularly antibodies, which has spanned more than a decade and earned him a Crick African Network Fellowship. Simon also talks about why we should pay more attention to TB stigma and embrace new paradigms to understanding TB.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:29 - Earliest steps in science and immunology
04:15 - Working with TB
09:30 - Heterologous (non-TB) antibody responses in people with active TB
15:02 - More on TB antibody responses | affinity and avidity
17:10 - Antibody responses in TB vaccines: BCG and future vaccines
23:45 - Crick African Network Fellowship | TB growth inhibition; antibody responses to TB surface sugars
31:11 - Linking current postdoctoral research on hantaviruses and interest in TB
36:50 - What's next, if funding was not a limitation
39:55 - What current TB paradigms need to change in Africa
44:45 - Closing remarks | The importance of mentorship
46:27 - Outro
Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
--
Launching in April 2025, our special TB Immunology series and first-ever disease-focused series dives deep into the science, challenges, and success stories behind the fight to end tuberculosis.
We’re joined by leading scientists whose work in TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development is shaping the current landscape of the disease in Africa and globally.
Whether you're actively involved in TB research or simply curious about the field, this experience promises to be both eye-opening and engaging.
The first episode in the series features Sara Suliman, an assistant professor in the Division of Experimental Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Her lab focuses on identifying host mechanisms underlying TB risk and pathogenesis.
An immunologist by training, Suliman is interested in understanding the immunological determinants of TB risk, progression, and treatment response and developing predictive biomarkers for the disease.
This episode explores Suliman's TB work, most of which began during post-doctoral training at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town. In addition, Suliman talks about how she blends hypothesis-driven and exploratory research in her science and why she finds the former 'more intellectually stimulating'.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
02:26 - Earliest steps in TB immunology
04:30 - Overview of initial TB immunology projects exploring vaccines and biomarkers
07:48 - Transitioning from cancer to infectious disease immunology
12:47 - Genetic biomarkers for TB progressors and non-progressors
19:06 - More on 'the biomarker study'
24:55 - TB heterogeneity
29:09 - Hypothesis-driven vs. exploratory science
32:38 - The impact of viral co-infections, such as COVID-19, on TB
36:41 - What do TB scientists disagree on?
42:34 - Lab culture, mentorship, and collaboration
46:30 - On being 'scooped'
48:23 - The future of TB in Africa
51:23 - Closing remarks
53:05 - Outro
This 'bonus' episode celebrates our growth over the past 2+ years and revisits insightful moments from past episodes published in 2024.
If any of these highlights interest you, feel free to check out the full episode for a more enriching experience.
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Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Segun Afolaranmi | "Optimising Natural Killer Cells against Cancers"
01:14 - Oghenebrume Wariri | "Improving Access to Vaccines in Children"
02:46 - Ousmane Traore | "Combating Malaria through Vaccines"
03:14 - Samuel Essien-Baidoo | "Vaginal Microbiota and Cervical Cancer Risk in Women"
04:12 - Rebecca Chukwuanukwu | "Immunity and Infection in Different Contexts"
05:07 - Ane Ogbe | "T Cells Subsets in the Induction of Optimal Antibody Responses"
05:42 - Catherine Kibirige | "Improving HIV Diagnosis through the HIVQuant Project"
06:19 - Deo-Gracias P. Seyigbena Berry | "Could Vitamin D Protect Foetuses from a Deadly Parasite?"
06:51 - Vania Maphossa | "Bridging the Gap: Immune Responses in the African Context"
07:38 - Gatien Lokossou | "Immunity in Pregnant Women and Infants"
08:12 - Samuel Essien-Baidoo | "Vaginal Microbiota and Cervical Cancer Risk in Women"
10:10 - Ane Ogbe | "T Cells Subsets in the Induction of Optimal Antibody Responses"
11:34 - Catherine Kibirige | "Improving HIV Diagnosis through the HIVQuant Project"
12:08 - Segun Afolaranmi | "Optimising Natural Killer Cells against Cancers"
13:15 - Onyeka Chukwudozie | "Outsmarting the Lassa Virus through a Multi-target Vaccine"
13:53 - Ane Ogbe | "T Cells Subsets in the Induction of Optimal Antibody Responses"
14:18 - Outro
This 'bonus' episode celebrates our growth over the past 2+ years and revisits insightful moments from past episodes published between 2022 and 2023.
If any of these highlights interest you, feel free to check out the full episode for a more enriching experience.
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On The Immunology in Africa Podcast, we explore narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, PhD students, and everyone in between to tell us about their journey into immunology, the questions driving their current work, and the impact they hope to make on the continent.
To support our efforts towards amplifying African stories of immunology, you can buy us coffee or nominate a guest.
---
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - Testimony Olumade | communicating science
01:36 - Marah Grace Chibwana | communicating science
01:57 - Abena Amoah | vaccine hyporesponsiveness and the HypoVax Global Hub
02:50 - Sonwabile Dzanibe | the immune system of HIV-exposed uninfected infants
04:01 - Raquel Matavele Chissumba | regulatory T cells
05:17 - Mohamed Ahmed | interferon-gamma, macrophages, and tuberculosis
06:01 - Fabien Prodjinotho | addressing Africa's neglected tropical diseases burden
06:34 - Dimie Ogoina | Africa needs to take the bull by the horn and build independence
07:15 - Raquel Matavele Chissumba | being key players in the creation of local solutions
08:03 - Mohamed Ahmed | look at older studies for surprising insights
08:58 - Muki Shey | finding a niche
09:44 - Sonwabile Dzanibe | enjoying and sharing your work
10:27 - Dimie Ogoina | the concept of why
10:50 - Tatenda Murangi | time, chance, and success
11:50 - Doudou Georges Niang | diagnosing and dealing with our limits
12:14 - Ubong Ekperikpe | purpose, passion, and diligence
12:53 - Abena Amoah | a tip for undergrads and emerging scientists
13:23 - Chinedu Ugwu | on being useful
13:47 - Kumba Seddu | pursuing excellence
14:46 - Marah Grace Chibwana | there's a cost attached to everything
15:30 - Richard Adeleke | go for it!
15:52 - Outro
ImmunoAfrica's Graduate Student Series offers emerging and aspiring immunologists the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by some of the most talented immunology graduate students from Africa.
For its second edition, this year, we peek into the fascinating work and busy lives of 4 graduate students (Vania, Onyeka, Deo-Gracias, and Segun), representing 3 African countries: Benin, Mozambique, and Nigeria.
Our fourth and last guest is Segun Afolaranmi.
Segun trained as a medical doctor at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and went on to complete his intern year of clinical practice. He developed a keen interest in cancer research and immunology towards the end of medical school, after noticing the grossly limited treatment options available to cancer patients in Nigeria.
The desire to develop effective anticancer therapies that'd fit this context led him to study for a master's in Integrated Immunology at the University of Oxford, as a Clarendon Scholar. Shortly after his master's, he joined the de la Roche lab at Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Institute, in January 2022 to pursue his PhD in Cancer Immunology, with funding from the Gates Cambridge Trust. His PhD research seeks to make immune cells better cancer fighters by modifying an important developmental pathway.
Alongside his scientific interests, Segun is passionate about expanding training opportunities for young scientists in Africa and working with others to accelerate access to cancer therapeutics on the continent. He is a co-founder of The Ganglion Initiative (TGI).
This episode explores his journey to becoming fascinated with cancers and immunology, highlights what makes natural killer (NK) cells special to him, and curates his perspectives on local support for scientific research and development in Africa.
Female Intro/Outro Voice-over: Ruth Ogboye
Timestamps:
00:00 - intro, about guest
02:56 - career background, early journey into immunology
05:19 - varied experience and exposures shape research interests
08:19 - how interest in cancer immunology developed
11:15 - updates on PhD research (making immune cells better cancer fighters)
16:37 - about natural killer (NK) cells
20:48 - cancers he's interested in tackling
22:38 - on collaborations (in cancer research; in Africa)
25:54 - local support for research and development in Africa
30:44 - PhD experience (time management, core values, lab skills and mistakes, etc.)
39:38 - about The Ganglion Initiative
43:36 - next steps post-PhD
45:31 - fun tasks (which scientists in your field of study inspire you; transform CANCER into an immunology acronym)
49:00 - outro
ImmunoAfrica's Graduate Student Series offers emerging and aspiring immunologists the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by some of the most talented immunology graduate students from Africa. For its second edition, this year, we peek into the fascinating work and busy lives of 4 graduate students (Vania, Onyeka, Deo-Gracias, and Segun), representing 3 African countries: Benin, Mozambique, and Nigeria.
Our third guest is Seyigbena P. Deo-Gracias Berry.
Deo-Gracias is a PhD student at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany, where she researches interactions between mothers and foetuses, in the context of immune function and tropical diseases. For her PhD project, she is trying to understand how infection with parasitic worms, particularly schistosoma found in fresh water snails, modulates vitamin D levels and immune function during pregnancy. Prior to joining TUM, she studied for master's in Cell Biology and Immunology at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, exploring malaria infection, also in the context of pregnancy.
In this episode, Deo-Gracias discusses her research on vitamin D and schistosomiasis, highlighting some of its implications for women and infants in regions endemic to the parasitic disease. She also talks about her love for the vitamin D-enriching African sun and reminisces about some of the mistakes that have punctuated her journey and how she's managed to navigate and learn from them.
Female Intro/Outro Voice-over: Ruth Ogboye.
Timestamps:
00:00 – intro
01:25 – early career journey, entry into immunology
07:10 – MSc project (how malaria infection during pregnancy shapes infant immunity)
11:15 – PhD project (vitamin D vs schistosomiasis infection in mother-foetus pairs) – findings and potential implications
[14:52-17:27] – about schistosomiasis
[18:52-22:32] – vitamin D and immune modulation
31:46 – missing Africa, finding balance, and time management
38:44 – useful skills
41:34 – dealing with mistakes
49:57 – core values and how they inform her work-life
53:27 – fun task (what’s your favourite immune cell and why?)
55:32 – outro
ImmunoAfrica's Graduate Student Series offers emerging and aspiring immunologists the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by some of the most talented immunology graduate students from Africa. For its second edition, this year, we peek into the fascinating work and busy lives of 4 graduate students (Vania, Onyeka, Deo-Gracias, and Segun), representing 3 African countries: Benin, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Our second guest is Onyeka Chukwudozie. Onyeka Chukwudozie is a virologist, immunologist, and structural biologist from Nigeria, with a bachelor's degree in Cell Biology and Genetics from the University of Lagos. Currently a PhD candidate at the University of California, San Diego, and a member of the Erica Ollmann Saphire Lab at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, his research targets the notorious Lassa virus which has caused multiple outbreaks in West Africa for decades. He is leading research on the largest study to discover antibodies against the virus in Nigeria. Onyeka has received both the Curci and Merkin fellowships, collaborating with institutions such as IAVI, to advance studies on the Lassa virus vaccine. In this episode, Onyeka talks about his self-initiated journey to becoming fascinated with the field of immunology. He also shares updates on his current research to tease out antibody immune responses to the Lassa virus and develop a vaccine against its different lineages in Nigeria. Learn more about his work on ResearchGate. Female Intro/Outro Voice-over: Ruth Ogboye Timestamps: 00:00 - intro, about guest 02:45 - why immunology / how did you get into immunology 05:36 - about PhD research project (scope, implications, applications, etc.) 14:00 - how multidisciplinary expertise informs research 19:28 - PhD experience (time management and unwinding, mentoring and supporting junior and aspiring scientists, etc.) 27:07 - useful skills for graduate school success 32:07 - core values and principles 37:33 - next steps post-PhD 40:25 - fun task (transform ONYEKA into an immunology acronym; how many journal articles do you read in a day?) 45:16 - closing remarks 47:20 - outro
ImmunoAfrica's Graduate Student Series offers emerging and aspiring immunologists the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by some of the most talented immunology graduate students from Africa. For its second edition, this year, we peek into the fascinating work and busy lives of 4 graduate students (Vania, Onyeka, Deo-Gracias, and Segun), representing 3 African countries: Benin, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Our first guest is Vania Maphossa. Vania Maphossa is a PhD student in Biosciences and Public Health at Eduardo Mondiane University, in Maputo City, Mozambique. Before commencing her PhD, she earned a bachelor's in Biology and Health and a Master's in Public Health at the same institution. Her current research largely focuses on unravelling immune responses to diseases endemic in Mozambique, including paediatric cancers , tuberculosis, and COVID-19. As part of her work, she also leads the Program for Endemic Diseases of Major Public Health Impact (PDEGIS) at the Mozambican National Institute of Health. -- In this episode, Vania talks about her research work and its implications for the development of vaccines and therapeutics. She also shares some of the challenges that come with doing a PhD in Africa, highlighting valuable insights for governments and other scientists. Female Intro/Outro Voice-over: Ruth Ogboye Timestamps: 00:00 - intro, about guest 02:25 - how did you get into the field immunology 04:40 - what questions are you currently addressing in the field 08:54 - updates on PhD projects, including findings, implications, reception, etc. 25:07 - next steps post-PhD 27:52 - PhD experience (time management techniques, useful skills, making and dealing with mistakes, etc.) 34:55 - thoughts on local support for PhD students 39:40 - fun task (if not immunology, then what?, describe your research to a five-year-old) 42:22 - outro
Dr. Ane Ogbe is an Associate Scientific Director at Moderna. Previously a postdoctoral immunologist at the University of Oxford, her work contributed to the current understanding of HIV and COVID-19 immunology.
Her research has been largely driven by the desire to gain insights into the dynamic role T cells play in the development and maintenance of immunity to infectious diseases. She began her scientific career in Nigeria, where she studied for a bachelor's in biological science at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Afterwards, she completed both her master's and Ph.D at Brunel University London where she identified a new role for 2 genes (Egr2 and 3) involved in regulating how T follicular helper (Tfh) cells differentiate.
For her postdoc, she joined the University of Oxford, collaborating with the Duke University – The National Institutes of Health CHAVI-ID consortium to investigate how CD4+ Tfh drive immune responses that lead to the development of broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs) in chronic HIV infection. She also worked as the lead immunologist in the RIO (Rockefellar, Imperial and Oxford University Collaboration) HIV clinical trial on bNAbs.
During the pandemic, Dr. Ogbe applied her expertise to characterising SARS-COV-2 immunology in natural infection and vaccination across immunocompetent and immunocompromised cohorts. Her work provided insights into the magnitude, durability, and quality of the immune response and informed vaccination policies.
She has now pivoted into industry where she continues to lead the development of immunological methods profiling immune cells to address questions relating to the quantity and quality of immune responses.
Dr. Ogbe is passionate about public engagement and spends her pastime, gardening, travelling or more recently, learning to sew.
To learn more about her work or connect with her, visit, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ane-Ogbe and https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneogbe.
The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/immuno-africa, X, https://x.com/immunoafrica_ and YouTube, https://youtube.com/@immunoafrica_. Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates.
Time stamps:
00:00 - intro
01:34 - early beginnings, academic and research journey, including experience learning in Nigeria vs. UK
08:24 - research project highlights: background, findings, and implications [T follicular helper cells & antibody function]
14:10 - (contd.) HIV and broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs)
21:22 - (contd.) COVID-19 vaccines
24:21 - transitioning to industry
28:04 - tips and pieces of advice for scientists interested in industry roles
32:46 - efforts to support science research, education, and mentorship in Nigeria/Africa + potential ideas for those interested in doing the same
43:07 - thriving through challenges
49:06 - closing remarks
52:54 - outro
Dr. Catherine Kibirige trained as a biochemist at the University of Bath, before earning a doctorate in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at The Johns Hopkins University. She is currently a Research Manager at Imperial College London.
Following a childhood interest, she has been involved in HIV-1 clinical research alongside large epidemiological cohort studies for over 20 years. She currently leads 'The HIVQuant Project' - www.hivquant.com which she founded to develop a special HIV quantification kit. It is hoped that this ambient-temperature HIV-1 quantification kit will address challenges associated with HIV diagnosis and treatment monitoring in resource-constrained settings. She is passionate about providing alternative low-cost treatment and monitoring tools for individuals living with HIV in these settings.
In addition to developing and optimising this kit, her work on HIV has also spanned elucidating cytotoxic (CD8) T cell mediated-cell death and investigating the relationship between the replicative capacities of HIV-1 and CD8-mediated viral inhibition. Dr. Kibirige is eager to translate her work to field and clinical settings and welcomes funding and collaborative opportunities aligned with this goal.
To learn more about her work and the HIVQuant Project, visit, www.hivquant.com, https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/c.kibirige,
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Catherine-Kibirige.
The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates.
Time stamps:
00:00 - intro
01:14 - early beginnings, academic and research journey
07:03 - initial foray into HIV quantification
13:23 - research project highlights: findings and implications
19:47 - what is the HIVQuant Project all about?
26:44 - current stage of the project: challenges and progress so far; next steps
30:35 - collaborations within Africa (and elsewhere)
35:02 - comments on mentorship
39:00 - comments on research in Africa vs. the diaspora (opportunities and challenges)
47:08 - closing remarks
49:44 - outro
Dr. Ousmane Traoré is an immunology and parasitology researcher currently working as Laboratory Manager at the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN / URCN) in Burkina Faso. He was a key figure in several malaria vaccine trials, including the phase II and III trials for R21/Matrix-M and the phase II trial for RH5/Matrix-M. His primary responsibilities include overseeing lab activities associated with clinical trials. Dr. Traoré, who holds a PhD in Applied Biology from Université Nazi Boni in Bobo-Dioulasso, has made significant contributions to our understanding of the immune correlates of malaria protection. He has held numerous research positions and collaborated with national and international institutions, including the Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST) and the University of Antwerp. Dr. Traoré has also received numerous travel awards and grants for his work on malaria and other infectious diseases. He has served as the Principal Investigator for several significant projects, including the GSK Supported Studies Programme: Africa Open Lab 2023 on placental malaria biomarkers and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) Small Grants Programme 2021 on postpartum malaria. He has also served as Co-Principal Investigator for a project funded by the National Fund for Research and Innovation for Development (FONRID ) Grants Programme 2021 that examined the efficacy of the hepatitis B vaccine in Burkina Faso. He has presented his research at numerous international conferences and has written extensively in prestigious scientific journals. His commitment to advancing public health in low- and middle-income countries is reflected in his ongoing research and numerous scientific contributions.
This episode spotlights Dr. Ousmane Traoré's efforts and contributions that led to the approval of the current malaria vaccines. He takes us on a journey through his work on the field and in the lab and highlights the indispensable role community engagement plays in combating vaccine hesitancy and boosting vaccinations.
Connect with him/learn more about his work here (https://crun.bf/researchers/ousmane-traore/) and across LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ousmane-traore-13b79933/) and ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ousmane-Traore-4).
The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/company/immuno-africa), X (https://x.com/immunoafrica_), and YouTube (https://youtube.com/immunoafrica_). Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates.
Time stamps:
00:00 - intro
01:30 - background, academic and research journey
08:41 - contributions towards the approval of the current malaria vaccines
12:39 - challenges with clinical trials in Africa: the past, present, and future
25:43 - more on malaria vaccines: why they took so long to develop; current limitations; future perspectives
36:34 - engaging local communities to boost vaccinations
44:11 - closing remarks
47:28 - outro
Dr. Gatien Lokossou leads the Human Biology Engineering Department at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, where he also doubles as a lecturer in Immunology and Cell Biology. His current research involves elucidating the microbiota composition of human breast milk and evaluating the protective function of immune cells and antibodies in breast milk against malaria in infants.
Prior to joining the University of Abomey-Calavi, Dr. Lokossou earned a PhD in Immunology at Paris Descartes University, France, where his work focused on genetic control of immune responses in malaria. During his post-doc at the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), Canada, he studied immunosuppression during pregnancy. His research explored the immune-related molecules, exosomes, and cells that contributed to the onset of preeclampsia in pregnant women in Canada and Benin. The overall goal of this project was to save lives and improve health outcomes by developing a diagnostic test for early detection of preeclampsia in at-risk pregnant women.
In this episode, Dr. Lokossou talks about his decision to return to his home country, Benin, after training in France and Canada. Most of his work, which has focused largely on pregnant women and infants, explore preeclampsia - a pregnancy-associated disease that can be fatal - and breast milk. Connect with him/learn more about his work via LinkedIn and ResearchGate. The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates.
Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 01:30 - overview of educational and research background 04:00 - on relocating to Benin after foreign education and training
06:15 - why immunology research
07:52 - highlights of key research projects (epithelial cell response to pathogenic bacteria; genetic control of malaria immune responses; pregnancy and preeclampsia)
14:32 - [preeclampsia] the roles of syncytin (immunosuppression and placenta development); potential impact of the project
22:12 - [breastmilk] the why; ongoing projects; when it's (un)safe; - vs. formula food; preserving its composition/integrity
38:34 - comment: strengthening local research capacity in Africa through funding
40:16 - a most important career-related piece of advice or decision
42:00 - closing remarks 45:05 - outro
Dr. Rebecca Chukwuanukwu is an Associate Professor of Immunology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, where she researches host immune responses to diseases. Her educational background is in biomedical sciences, with a specialty in haematology and blood transfusion. She obtained two master's degrees: first, in Haematology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and then, in Immunology and Allergy at the University of Nottingham, UK, before proceeding to pursue a PhD in Immunology at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University. In addition to serving in various academic and administrative roles, Dr. Chukwuanukwu has also won numerous grants and prizes, including the UNESCO-Merck Africa Research Award. She is currently a Senior Experienced Research Fellow at the Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, courtesy of a fellowship award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. In this episode, she takes us on her journey and experience exploring the immune system in different contexts, from co-infections involving malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis to pregnancy and malaria. She also talks about her commitment to advancing the field of immunology by training, mentoring, and supporting next-generation scientists. Connect with her/learn more about her work here and across LinkedIn and ResearchGate. The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube. Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates. Time stamps: 00:00 - intro 01:23 - background, academic and research journey 07:11 - highlights of key research projects and awards from PhD research 18:55 - on training, mentoring, and supporting younger scientists 26:41 - research fellowship at Friedrich Alexander University, Germany 33:11 - what's the most fulfilling part of your work 41:17 - closing remarks 44:20 - outro
Prof. Samuel Essien-Baidoo is an Associate Professor in Laboratory Medicine at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and a Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science. His research is dedicated to exploring the intricate interplay between natural and artificial determinants of adverse health outcomes, particularly in the context of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Away from research, Prof. Essien-Baidoo has a wealth of administrative experience, having served as the founding Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science and held many other positions at UCC, Ghana. He has also shown deep commitment to community service and mentorship by supporting and guiding student volunteers engaged in various initiatives, spanning livelihood empowerment, environmental sanitation, and reproductive health.
In this episode, Prof. Essien-Baidoo shares highlights of his research exploring the link between vaginal microbes, the immune system, and the onset of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Ghanaian women. Findings from this study will inform cervical cancer screening and management in at-risk women.
Connect with him/learn more about his work here and across LinkedIn, X, and ResearchGate.
The Immunology in Africa Podcast is on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube. Follow/Subscribe to keep track of new episodes and other immunology updates. Time stamps:
00:00 - intro 01:20 - overview of academic and research journey 05:11 - findings from PhD research 07:44 - growing up and developing interest in immunology, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases 11:48 - highlights of research on vaginal microbiota and cervical cancer risk (findings, implications, next steps, etc.) 27:28 - interest and work in health and research ethics 33:30 - challenges and how he's dealt with them 42:18 - updates from IUIS Cape Town 2023 46:10 - final words 49:00 - outro