The Immunology in Africa Podcast
The Immunology in Africa Podcast, hosted by Wealth Okete, explores the intersection of immunology and Africa. It features the stories, science, and perspectives of African immunology researchers, covering their paths into the field, the questions that drive their work, and the impact they hope to have on the continent. The show celebrates Africa-led science and aims to foster public engagement with the scientific community while countering misinformation. It also seeks to connect next-generation scientists with role models.
Episodes
Characterising T Cell Exhaustion in Chronic HIV Infection - GSS 3.0 (4/5) - Wasihun Hailemichael
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 third edition, this year, we feature 5 PhD students representing 5 African countries, namely Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Our guests share their uniq
Tuberculosis, Microglia, and the Brain: From Infection to Inflammation - GSS 3.0 (3/5) - Limpho Thipane
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 third edition, this year, we feature 5 PhD students representing 5 African countries, namely Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Our guests share their unique s
Decoding T Cell Function and Metabolism in Early-life Immunity to Malaria - GSS 3.0 (2/5) - Chris Mbianda
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 third edition, this year, we feature 5 PhD students representing 5 African countries, namely Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Our guests share their unique s
(Video) A Cure for HIV: Dissecting Africa's First HIV-cure Trial - Prof. Thumbi Ndung'u
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
Nerves, Skin, and Immunity: Understanding Keloids through the Lens of the Immune System - GSS 3.0 (1/5) - Takunda Ngwenya
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 third edition, this year, we feature 5 PhD students representing 5 African countries, namely Zimbabwe, South Africa, Benin, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Our guests share their unique s
T Cells in Autoimmunity, Viral Diseases, and Vaccines - Annie Elong
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 stori
Tackling Neglected Diseases: From Research to Impact - Lorraine Pfavayi
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
A Cure for HIV: Dissecting Africa's First HIV-cure Trial - Prof. Thumbi Ndung'u
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 im
TB Immunology Series: Reimagining Funding Models for Tuberculosis Research - Prof. Mohlopheni J. Marakalala
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
TB Immunology Series: Mapping the Immune Landscape of Tuberculosis-HIV Co-infection - Fatoumatta Darboe
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 im
TB Immunology Series: Counting the Lessons, Losses from Tuberculosis Vaccine Trials - Anele Gela
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 immunolo
TB Immunology Series: Unravelling Tuberculosis in Animal Models (Non-Human Primates) - Solomon Jauro
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 immuno
TB Immunology Series: Expanding the Vaccines Toolbox for Tuberculosis - Paul Ogongo
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 immunolo
TB Immunology Series: Zooming in on Antibody Responses in Tuberculosis - Simon Kimuda
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
TB Immunology Series: Predicting and Understanding Tuberculosis Risk - Sara Suliman
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,
Highlights & Key Insights - 2024
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.---Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors, postdocs, Ph
Highlights & Key Insights - 2022, 2023
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.---Hosted by Wealth Okete, The Immunology in Africa Podcast explores narratives at the nexus of immunology & Africa. We ask professors
Optimising Natural Killer Cells against Cancers - GSS 2.0 (4/4) - Segun Afolaranmi
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: Beni
Could Vitamin D Protect Foetuses from a Deadly Parasite? GSS 2.0 (3/4) - Seyigbena P. Deo-Gracias Berry
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: B
Outsmarting the Lassa Virus through a Multi-target Vaccine - GSS 2.0 (2/4) - Onyeka Chukwudozie
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: Ben
Bridging the Gap: Immune Responses in the African Context - GSS 2.0 (1/4) - Vania Maphossa
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: Be
T Cell Subsets in the Induction of Optimal Antibody Responses - Dr. Ane Ogbe
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 he
Improving HIV Diagnosis through the HIVQuant Project - Dr. Catherine Kibirige
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
Combating Malaria through Vaccines - Dr. Ousmane Traoré
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
Immunity in Pregnant Women and Infants - Dr. Gatien Lokossou
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 t
Immunity and Infection in Different Contexts - Dr. Rebecca Chukwuanukwu
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, i
Vaginal Microbiota and Cervical Cancer Risk in Women - Prof. Samuel Essien-Baidoo
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 dis
Improving Access to Vaccines in Children - Dr. Oghenebrume Wariri
Dr. Oghenebrume Wariri is a Clinical Research Fellow in Vaccines and Immunity at the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM. His research focuses on vaccine epidemiology, particularly examining the performance of country-level immunization systems and investigating how broader demand- and supply-side factors influence the delivery and uptake of routine childhood vaccination in West Africa.
Dr. Wariri receiv
How Sex Differences and Cytokines Shape Immune Responses - GSS 1.0 (6/6) - Kumba Seddu
Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Episode 6 of 6)
Kumba Seddu started her PhD journey at Johns Hopkins University where she investigated male and female immune differences to viral vaccines and infections. Her research added to the growing evidence that vaccinated females have greater antibody responses than males. This increased vaccine-induced antibody response in females is due to hormonal
How Obesity Triggers Kidney Diseases: The Role of the Immune System - GSS 1.0 (5/6) - Ubong Ekperikpe
Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 5 of 6)
Ubong Ekperikpe is a Ph.D. candidate in the Experimental Therapeutics and Pharmacology program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where he studies obesity and kidney diseases. He trained as a Pharmacist at the University of Jos, before earning a master's degree in Pharmacology at the University of Benin, both in Nigeria. He has also serv
Decoding the Link Between Alpha-Gal Allergy and Parasitic Infections - GSS 1.0 (4/6) - Tatenda Murangi
Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 4 of 6)
Tatenda Murangi completed his bachelor's degree in Biology, majoring in Tropical Disease Biology, at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe. He is currently a PhD Candidate in Clinical Science and Immunology at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, where he studies alpha-gal allergy. His PhD work, which builds on his MSc resea
Improving Health Outcomes in Inflammatory Diseases: From COVID-19 to Rheumatoid Arthritis - GSS 1.0 (3/6) - Marah Grace Chibwana
Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 3 of 6)
Marah Grace Chibwana holds a medical degree (MBBS) from the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and an MSc in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford. For her PhD, she was recently awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to read for a DPhil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the University of Oxford. Building on her MSc research, her PhD will
Targeting Galectin-3 in Aggressive Breast Cancers: Implications for African Women - GSS 1.0 (2/6) - Doudou Georges Massar Niang
Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 2 of 6).
Doudou Georges Massar Niang grew up aspiring to be a professional basketball player — but he's now enamored with the field of immunology. With a doctor of Pharmacy and two Masters degrees from Cheikh Anta Diop University, Doudou's background spans hematology, cancer immunology and genetics. He has spent the last four years of his PhD exploring the
Tackling Viral Diseases through Vaccines: From SARS to Influenza - GSS 1.0 (1/6) - Richard Adeleke
Graduate Student Series (GSS) 1.0 (Ep. 1 of 6).
Richard Adeleke (DVM) trained as a veterinarian at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he first took an interest in immunology and vaccine development. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Cornell University, USA, and works in Professor Hector Aguilar-Carreno's Lab. His research centres around vaccine dev
Understanding Variations in Vaccine Responses: What It Means for Africa - Dr. Abena Amoah
Abena Amoah (PhD) is the lead for the HypoVax Global Knowledge Hub based at Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases of the Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, in the Netherlands. The knowledge hub is focused on understanding variations in vaccine responses across geographical areas and populations. It aims to address the central question of why weaker responses to some va
Unravelling Viral Diseases: How the Immune System Responds to the Lassa Fever Virus - Dr. Chinedu Ugwu
Chinedu Alphonsus Ugwu (PhD) holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with distinctions from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Master of Science in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford, UK, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Sciences from the University of Cambridge, UK. He specializes in translational immunology, vaccine, immunotherapeutic designs for pathogens, and one
Immunology Talks to Public Health: Africa in Focus - Prof. Dimie Ogoina
Professor Dimie Ogoina is a Professor of Medicine and Head of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, in Bayelsa, Nigeria. He obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and has spent the last two decades researching various infectious diseases. Professor Ogoina's research interests span HIV/AIDS, healthcar
Surmounting Hurdles: Charting a Course Through the Immune System for Africa - Prof. Raquel M. Chissumba
Professor Raquel Matavele Chissumba is a Professor of Immunology and Head of the Endemic Diseases with High Sanitary Impact program - at the Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Mozambique's National Institute of Health. She researches diseases such as HIV, TB, HTLV, and COVID-19 and contributes to understanding and exploring various therapies against them. Inspired by her experiences as a young girl, her
Understanding Neurocysticercosis: How Tapeworm Cysts Thwart & Trigger Epilepsy - Dr. Fabien Prodjinotho
Dr. Fabien Prodjinotho is a senior scientist in immunology and parasitology at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and a co-founder of the Benin Society of Immunology. Although his research career in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) began in his home country, Benin, securing the DAAD scholarship led him to Germany, where he continued to follow his passion. His ultimate goal is to build
Carving a Niche: From Malaria to Tuberculosis & MAIT Cells - Prof. Muki Shey
Dr. Muki Shey is a Chief Research Scientist (at the Associate Professor level) and recipient of the Wellcome Intermediate Fellowship in Public Health & Tropical Medicine at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. In this episode, starting from his humble beginnings in Cameroun, he shares his journey and evolution into embracing the mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) as a rese
Rethinking Tuberculosis: Why Enhancing Immune Responses in Tuberculosis Might be Detrimental - Dr. Mohamed Ahmed
Mohamed Ahmed (PhD) is a fellow of the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE) and a recent PhD graduate of the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) associated with the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban, South Africa. In this episode, he talks about his return to tuberculosis (TB) research for his PhD after a not-so-motivating undergraduate experience. His
Untieing a Gordian Knot: Mother-to-Infant HIV Exposure - Dr. Sonwabile Dzanibe
In this episode, Dr. Sonwabile Dzanibe, a research fellow at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, talks about his research and efforts to understand mother-to-child HIV exposure and develop vaccines for children exposed to HIV, who have a higher risk of contracting diseases.
Immunology in Africa: Telling Our Stories - Testimony Olumade
In this episode, Testimony Olumade, a research fellow at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, takes us on his journey researching infectious diseases and expresses hope for the future of immunology research in Africa, while calling upon African immunology scientists to tell 'true and complete' stories of our research.
Welcome to ImmunoAfrica: Trailer - Wealth Okete
The Immunology in Africa Podcast (ImmunoAfrica), hosted by Wealth Okete, is dedicated to spotlighting immunology and related research in Africa / for Africa / by Africans.
By amplifying the stories, struggles, and successes of Africans researching the immune system, it creates a platform for scientists, budding researchers, and members of the public to explore the immune system collectively.
