Easing the suffering of Alzheimer sufferers
Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:41:00 GMT
Researcher develops new drugs to treat the neuro-inflammation that afflicts Alzheimer’s sufferers
NIGERIAN-born Uchechukwu Peace Okorji is taking part in research at the University of Huddersfield that could help ease the suffering of Alzheimer’s patients. Meanwhile, her work towards a PhD and her track record as a young scientist has earned her an award that is made annually by a 90-year-old Huddersfield organisation that aims to recognise the achievements of women graduates.
Uche – as she is known – was born and received her early education in Abia State, Nigeria. She relocated to the UK for a succession of degrees in pharmacology and drug discovery at universities in Aberdeen and Bradford. She discovered a passion for lab-based research, which she conducted in fields that included cancer treatments and anti-inflammatory drugs. Her studies culminated in her arrival at the University of Huddersfield to work towards her doctorate under the supervision of Dr Olumayokun Olajide.
The role of inflammation in diseases had been a principal thread in Uche’s research and she was awarded a bursary to come to Huddersfield and take part in a project to develop new drugs to treat the neuroinflammation that afflicts Alzheimer’s sufferers. She is now in the third year of her PhD and has already described her project in presentations and posters for bodies such as the British Pharmacology Society. She is also the co-author of two academic articles.
Huddersfield Association of Women Graduates
The Huddersfield Association of Women Graduates (AWG) was formed 90 years ago – one of the earliest groups of its kind in the UK. It is affiliated with the International Federation of Women Graduates and holds monthly lectures and discussion groups. Also, for more than 20 years, it has made an annual award to an outstanding graduate carrying out research at the University of Huddersfield.
Every year, the Huddersfield AWG asks a different department of the University for nominations. In late 2013, the Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences was asked for candidates and AWG members decided that Uche should receive the 2014 award. She receives a cash prize and will give a presentation on her work to a meeting of AWG members in February.
Jane Carter, of the Huddersfield AWG, said that all of the nominees had been impressive, but the fact that Uche’s research dealt with the topic of Alzheimer’s was a powerful factor in securing the award.
It is projected that by 2021, the UK will have a million dementia patients, with Alzheimer’s the most common form. Globally, the figure already stands at almost 36 million.
