Employing (Home) Organisation: University of Nigeria Nsukka
Project title: Advanced molecular approaches to identify mutations and epigenetic changes with potential bio-maker value in high-risk Human Papilloma Virus genomes from Nigeria.
Dr. Ifeorah is a virologist with a research interest in infectious disease oncology. Her work explores virus evolution and the complex interactions between hosts and oncogenic viruses to generate translatable evidence for risk assessment biomarkers and point-of-care testing in African populations. She is a Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine University of Nigeria and a Research associate at the IVAN Research Institute Enugu. She credits Drs. Adesola Olalekan and Uzoamaka Okoli for inspiring her to apply for the AREF-RDF.
Summary of Project Destination
Cervical cancer (CCa) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths among women in many sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria. High-risk HPV (hr-HPV) types 16 and 18 drive over 70% of cases, yet data on their mutations and DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns remain limited in Nigeria. Ifeorah’s project will investigate whether specific mutations and DNAm patterns in hr-HPV can serve as biomarkers for CCa progression. She will use Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics approaches to identify mutations and DNAm patterns on hr-HPV 16 and 18 samples from Nigerian women living with HIV (WLHIV) with different grades of cervical lesions. She will apply acquired skills to advance research geared at improving CCa surveillance and early detection particularly in WLHIV in Nigeria.
Summary of Fellowship Plan
Dr. Ifeorah will train at the prestigious Infectious Disease and Oncology Research Institute at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits-IDORI), South Africa, under the mentorship of Prof. Patrick Arbuthnot. She will gain hands-on experience in NGS and bioinformatics methods for mutations and methylation analysis. she will also enhance her grantsmanship, leadership, and communication skills. Upon return to her home institution, Dr Ifeorah will have access to technical and administrative support to transfer the skills acquired.
Quote
“Early detection, improved risk assessments, and targeted interventions can reduce cervical cancer burden, especially among women living with HIV in Africa.”
Dr. Ifeorah Ijeoma expects to start her fellowship in December 2025