Professor Olukemi K. Amodu of the Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology. The Royal Society of Biology is the foremost academy for the biosciences and life sciences globally.
As a Professor of Genetics/Molecular Biology and Public Health, she has dedicated her career to understanding the biological and genetic factors that influence disease patterns in African populations and to translating scientific discoveries into practical public health solutions. Her studies accentuate precision public health, demonstrating how genetics can help improve diagnosis and disease prevention, targeting specific individuals and populations with appropriate interventions.
One of Olukemi's earliest groundbreaking research achievements emerged from her doctoral studies in molecular biology and genetics. Her research demonstrated that the presence of malaria pigment in leucocytes can serve as an important marker of disease severity in children suffering from malaria. This discovery provided valuable insights into the diagnosis and monitoring severity in childhood malaria, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. By identifying biological markers of severity, her work contributed to improving clinical assessment and patient management.
Following her postdoctoral training at Harvard University, her studies focused on genetic diversity of both human populations and malaria parasites, understanding why some individuals are more susceptible to malaria than others and how genetic variations influence disease outcomes. Her studies have identified markers associated with malaria virulence and host susceptibility in Nigerian populations. These findings have contributed to scientific understanding of the complex interactions between pathogens and human genetics. She has participated in large international collaborations, where she serves as site principal investigator and collaborator in several multicenter studies, including the Malaria Genetic Epidemiology Network (MalariaGEN) and the European Union-funded research networks Biomalpar and EvimalaR. These consortia brought together scientists from multiple countries to investigate the genetic basis of malaria resistance and susceptibility. Through these collaborations, Professor Amodu contributed to landmark studies that advanced global knowledge of malaria epidemiology and genetics. Her publication record reflects the breadth and impact of her scientific work. She has contributed to influential studies published in leading international journals, including research on genome-wide association analyses of malaria in West Africa, re-evaluations of known malaria resistance loci, and global mapping of Plasmodium falciparum genetic variants.
Olukemi's research has continued to address pressing health concerns in Nigeria. Her studies have examined childhood immunization uptake, malaria-related immune response genes, and molecular markers associated with disease outcomes. She contributed to genomic research initiatives in Africa, supporting efforts to expand biomedical research infrastructure and expertise. Her involvement in H3Africa linked Kidney Disease Network and NIH-funded MADCAP project highlights her commitment to advancing African leadership in genomics research.
Professor Olukemi Amodu, a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, developed the Public Health Biotechnology Master's and PhD programmes at the Institute of Child Health, University of Ibadan, as part of her broader vision to build Nigerian capacity in genetics, molecular biology, and public health research. Olukemi recognized a gap in Nigeria's scientific training landscape. While students could study traditional public health or biological sciences separately, there were few opportunities for a combined training of Molecular biology, Genetics and Genomics, Epidemiology, Public health, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology. Olukemi personally led the development of the curriculum for the pioneering interdisciplinary Public Health Biotechnology program. Under her leadership, the program has trained multiple cohorts of postgraduate students, while continuing to train new students. Through teaching, supervision, and mentorship, she has helped create a new generation of Nigerian scientists capable of conducting research in genomics, infectious diseases, biotechnology, and public health.
A remarkable consequence of the phenomenal Public Health Biotechnology is a novel, now patented approach for obtaining chitosan from cockroach (Americana periplaneta) exoskeletons. Chitosan, derived from chitin, is a natural polymer valued in biomedicine and an ideal denominator in the program’s continued venture for developing molecular biology reagents for gel electrophoresis, using locally sourced materials. Another success worth a mention is the characterization (taxonomy and genetics) of indigenous medicinal leeches, a previously undocumented resource in Nigeria, which provides a foundation for safe, evidence-based utilization of leech therapy in biomedical applications.
Olukemi's research career is characterized by scientific excellence, innovation, and commitment to public health improvement. As a researcher, educator, and mentor, she continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of biomedical and public health research in Africa. Her work also supports harnessing biological resources with potential for global impact.
This recognition is, therefore, well-deserved and it showcases the environment at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, where the necessary support is provided.