ABOUT BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH GROUP
Basic and Translational Cancer Research Group, University of Nigeria Nsukka created in 2020, encompasses a board scope of disciplines. Cancer research as a discipline has a remarkable integration of all forms of biological science from animal models to cell biology, genomics, informatics and therapeutics.
Our Mission: To piece the missing link in translating basic cancer into clinical practice in the Sub-Saharan Africa, towards fighting for a cancer free world..
Our Vision: To bridge the disparity between cancer research in Sub-Saharan Africa and Clinical Practice
Concept Note According to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. WHO, estimated that about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer and approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. Likewise, epidemiological studies show that Africans or African- Americans have lower incidence and higher mortality rates than the Caucasian - American counterparts. This disparity between races may be due to late onset of aggressive metastases and genetic factors in the former. To understand the disparities between races better knowledge of cancer biology of African origin is required. Experimental models of human cancers play a major role in our current understanding of tumour biology. Modelling human cancers in animals has been the leading approach to translational research in oncology for the past 30 years. In pre-clinical oncology, these models have led to drug target discovery and validation. Successes in these field include, among others, identifying microRNAs (miRs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as therapeutic targets, discovering druggable targets for aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, leukaemia and melanoma. In turn, this has improved cancer patients’ outcome. Also, In the quest for understanding and treating a diverse spectrum of cancer types, the advent of next generation technologies and gene expression arrays have enabled analysis of the complexities of cancer evolution. This has improved our understanding of mutational processes driving immune escape, treatment resistance and therapeutic failures in various cancer biological landscape. Although, personalized molecular testing for genetic abbreviations and genomic variations are integral part of cancer management in the developed world, it is not the norm in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Basic and Translational Cancer Research Group, College of Medicine, university of Nigeria, will be committed to delivering cutting edge research in our poor resource setting to contribute to knowledge globally. To further augment the underrepresentation and paucity of cancer genomics data of African origin. .
Precisely, our focus includes cancer biology; biomarkers and diagnostics; chemical carcinogenesis; epigenetics regulation or epigenetics of cancer; diet/epigenetic mediated tumorigenesis; nutrient roles in cancer prevention and therapy; experimental models of human cancer; targeted therapies; cancer associated thrombosis; immune- oncology; computational analysis of cancer genomes and novel approaches to cancer treatments based on patient genetics.
Our objective is to address the burning questions in oncology (disparities) and achieve from bench to bedside to better improve the outcome of cancer patients..
• Dr Uzoamaka Okoli • Dr Michael Okafor • Prof Ken Agu • Dr Theresa Nwagha • Dr Ifeoma Nwigwe • Dr Ifeoma Orizu • Dr Obinna Nwoke • Dr David Nwanjiobi • Mr Zedech Uche • Mrs Lorreta Ene • Mr Nonso Ejiofor
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: DR. UZOAMAKA A. OKOLI
Phone number: +2348101510072
Work Address: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences College of Medicine,University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Campus
Area(s):Basic and translational Research, Functional Genomics, Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Degree(s):PhD, University of Nigeria Nsukka; MSc, BSc, University of East London.
Clinical Interests:Triple negative breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Myeloma
