Ijeoma Uchegbu Explained

Ijeoma Uchegbu
Workplaces:University of Strathclyde
University College London
Alma Mater:University of Benin
University of Lagos
University of London
Known For:Nanoparticle drug delivery
Website:http://www.nanomerics.com

Ijeoma Uchegbu is a Nigerian-British Professor of Pharmacy at University College London where she held the position of Pro-Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East. She is the Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics, a pharmaceutical nanotechnology company specialising in drug delivery solutions for poorly water-soluble drugs, nucleic acids and peptides. She is also a Governor of the Wellcome, a large biomedical research charity. Apart from her highly cited scientific research in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience,[1] Uchegbu is also known for her work in science public engagement and equality and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).[2] [3] In December 2023, it was announced that she will become President of Wolfson College, Cambridge in October 2024.[4]

Education and early career

Uchegbu grew up in Hackney and South East Nigeria.[5] She studied pharmacy at the University of Benin, graduating in 1981, and earned her master's degree at the University of Lagos.[6] She could not complete a PhD in Nigeria due to infrastructure difficulties in the 80s.

"I came into science simply because after training as a pharmacist I wanted something a little bit more challenging to do. I thought that being a researcher would be a great place to start. As I did my pharmacy degree at Nigeria’s University of Benin, I did give research a try in Nigeria, but the infrastructure difficulties in the eighties made this virtually impossible. I came back to the UK, having emigrated 17 years earlier from the UK to Nigeria and started looking around for opportunities."[7]

She moved back to the UK and completed her postgraduate studies at the University of London, graduating with a PhD in 1997. She was appointed a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde from 2002-2004.

Uchegbu has been elected President of Wolfson College, Cambridge and will take up the post commencing 1st October 2024. [8]

Research

Uchegbu was made a Chair in Drug Delivery at the University of Strathclyde in 2002. Here she worked on polymer self-assembly, identifying materials that could form stable nanosystems.[9] She demonstrated that polymer molecular weight could be used to control the size of vesicles.[10] She joined University College London in 2006 as a Chair in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at the School of Pharmacy. Uchegbu leads a research group that investigate molecular design and dosage of pharmaceuticals.[11] She has designed polymers that self-assemble into nanoparticles with the appropriate properties to transport drugs. She explores how nanoparticles can be used for drug delivery.[12] Uchegbu holds several patents for drug delivery,[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] and biocompatible polymers.[21] [22] [23] Her pharmaceuticals deliver genes and siRNA to tumours and peptides to the brain as well as encouraging the absorption of hydrophobic drugs using nanoparticles.[24] She is exploring how nanomedicine can be used to treat brain tumours.[25] In 2018 she was part of a £5.7 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council grant, Raman Nanotheranostics, that will use gold nanoparticles to identify disease and light to destroy diseased cells.[26] She also works with magnetic nanoparticles.[27] [28]

Nanomerics

In 2010 Uchegbu founded Nanomerics with Andreas Schätzlein.[29] Nanomerics is a pharmaceutical company that uses nanotechnology platforms to develop medicine. Uchegbu is the Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics. Nanomerics are developing structures that can transport antibodies that can cross the blood–brain barrier.[30] Nanomerics develop molecular envelope technology nanoparticles from amphiphilic polymers that self-assemble.[31] She won the Royal Society of Chemistry Emerging Technologies prize for their molecular envelope technology in 2017.[32] She licensed the medicine NM133 to Iacta Pharmaceuticals in 2017. NM133 contains cyclosporine A and can be used to treat dry eye.

Professional service

Uchegbu serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Controlled Release.[33] She has served as the scientific secretary of the Controlled Release Society. She is editor-in-chief of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology.[34] She is on the healthcare strategy advisory team of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. She was involved in the University College London celebrations of the National Health Service turning seventy.[35] In 2007 she was chosen for Women of Outstanding Achievement in SET Photographic Exhibition which was displayed at the Science Museum and the British Museum.[36]

In 2015 Uchegbu was appointed Pro-Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East.[37] [38] She chairs the Africa and Middle East regional network at University College London, building partnerships and starting collaborative teams, welcoming international visitors and supporting student recruitment.[39]

Public Engagement and Equality and Diversity

Uchegbu is involved in public engagement and science communication and is featured in BBC Woman's Hour discussing her research into how nano particles can be used to help deliver drugs to the body[40] and taken part in Soapbox Science an international science outreach programme promoting women scientists and the work they do to members of the public.

Uchegbu is also involved in equality and diversity activities and programmes, acting as the UCL Provost's Envoy for Race Equality and featuring as the only Black British Role Model for the Women's Engineering Society. She also serves on the University College London Race Equality Charter self-assessment team.[41] [42] She is part of the Black Female Professors Forum, representing 1 of the 55 female professors of colour and 1 of the 25 Black female professors in the UK in 2017.[43] [44]

Books

Awards and honours

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ijeoma Uchegbu - Google Scholar Citations. scholar.google.co.uk. 2019-02-28.
  2. Web site: Role models Women's Engineering Society. wes.org.uk. 2019-02-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20190301013426/https://www.wes.org.uk/role-models. 2019-03-01. dead.
  3. Web site: Deans pledge to further race equality at UCL. UCL. 2018-07-12. UCL Human Resources. en. 2019-02-28.
  4. Web site: https://mailchi.mp/wolfson/whats-on-26-sept-8757498?e=e980afebda. Wolfson College Announces its Next President. Wolfson College, Cambridge. 2023-12-09.
  5. Web site: International Women's Day 2015: What inspired some of UCL's leading women to become academics?. ucl.ac.uk. 2018-10-21. 2015-03-05.
  6. The Talent Pool. Editors. BioPharm International. Biopharm International. BioPharm International-12-02-2006 . 2 December 2006 . 2006 . 7 . 2018-10-21.
  7. News: Barriers are there to be broken: Meet Ijeoma F. Uchegbu - SoapboxScience. 2017-05-24. SoapboxScience. 2018-10-21.
  8. Web site: reports . Agency . 2023-12-17 . Tinubu congratulates Nigerian, Ijeoma Uchegbu, elected Cambridge varsity college president . 2023-12-19 . Tribune Online . en-GB.
  9. Web site: Ijeoma Uchegbu Nanomerics. nanomerics.com. 2018-10-21.
  10. Wang. Wei. McConaghy. Anne Marie. Tetley. Laurence. Uchegbu. Ijeoma F.. February 2001. Controls on Polymer Molecular Weight May Be Used To Control the Size of Palmitoyl Glycol Chitosan Polymeric Vesicles. Langmuir. 17. 3. 631–636. 10.1021/la001078w. 0743-7463.
  11. Web site: Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu. UCL. UCL School of Pharmacy. 2018-10-21. 2018-04-25.
  12. 2018-01-28. Nanoparticulate peptide delivery exclusively to the brain produces tolerance free analgesia. Journal of Controlled Release. 270. 135–144. 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.11.041. 29191784. 0168-3659. Godfrey. Lisa. Iannitelli. Antonio. Garrett. Natalie L.. Moger. Julian. Imbert. Ian. King. Tamara. Porreca. Frank. Soundararajan. Ramesh. Lalatsa. Aikaterini. Schätzlein. Andreas G.. Uchegbu. Ijeoma F.. 10871/34693. free. free.
  13. Web site: US Patent Application for Delivery of Drugs Patent Application (Application #20160279189 issued September 29, 2016) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  14. Web site: US Patent for Delivery of hydrophilic drugs Patent (Patent # 8,920,819 issued December 30, 2014) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  15. Web site: US Patent Application for Delivery of Hydrophilic Peptides Patent Application (Application #20130203647 issued August 8, 2013) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  16. Web site: US Patent Application for Delivery of Hydrophilic Drugs Patent Application (Application #20130034590 issued February 7, 2013) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  17. Web site: US Patent for Delivery of hydrophilic drugs Patent (Patent # 8,278,277 issued October 2, 2012) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  18. Web site: US Patent Application for DELIVERY OF HYDROPHILIC DRUGS Patent Application (Application #20100222281 issued September 2, 2010) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  19. Web site: US Patent Application for Drug delivery Patent Application (Application #20060148982 issued July 6, 2006) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  20. Web site: US Patent Application for Dendrimers for use in targeted delivery Patent Application (Application #20050019923 issued January 27, 2005) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  21. Web site: US Patent for Solubilising polysaccharides substituted with dydrophilic and hydrophobic groups Patent (Patent # 7,741,474 issued June 22, 2010) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  22. Web site: US Patent Application for Bioactive Polymers Patent Application (Application #20080267903 issued October 30, 2008) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  23. Web site: US Patent Application for Solubilising polysaccharides substituted with dydrophilic and hydrophobic groups Patent Application (Application #20060167116 issued July 27, 2006) - Justia Patents Search. patents.justia.com. 2018-10-21.
  24. Web site: Iris View Profile. iris.ucl.ac.uk. 2018-10-21.
  25. Fisusi. Funmilola A. Schätzlein. Andreas G. Uchegbu. Ijeoma F. March 2018. Nanomedicines in the treatment of brain tumors. Nanomedicine. 13. 6. 579–583. 10.2217/nnm-2017-0378. 29376468. 1743-5889. free.
  26. Web site: EPSRC grant to revolutionise detection and treatment of life-threatening illnesses. restless.org.uk. 2018-10-21. 2018-02-16. 2018-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20181021232250/http://www.restless.org.uk/pharmacy/pharmacy-news/epsrc-grant-uchegbu-schaztlein. dead.
  27. Hobson. Nicholas J.. Weng. Xian. Ashford. Marianne. Thanh. Nguyen T. K.. Schätzlein. Andreas G.. Uchegbu. Ijeoma F.. 2019-06-05. Facile aqueous, room temperature preparation of high transverse relaxivity clustered iron oxide nanoparticles. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 570. 165–171. 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2019.03.023. 96426043 . 0927-7757.
  28. Hobson. Nicholas J. Weng. Xian. Siow. Bernard. Veiga. Catarina. Ashford. Marianne. Thanh. Nguyen TK. Schätzlein. Andreas G. Uchegbu. Ijeoma F. 2019-05-01. Clustering superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles produces organ-targeted high-contrast magnetic resonance images. Nanomedicine. 14. 9. 1135–1152. 10.2217/nnm-2018-0370. 31050589. 1743-5889. free.
  29. Web site: Studying small things can lead to big opportunities says UCL Chair in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience etrust. etrust.org.uk. 2018-10-21.
  30. News: UCL spin-out aims to smuggle antibodies across the blood-brain barrier. biopharma-reporter.com. 2018-10-21.
  31. News: IACTA Pharmaceuticals Licenses NM133 from Nanomerics for Treatment of Dry Eye. 2018-10-21.
  32. Web site: Innovation Seminar Series - Prof. Ijeoma Uchegbu, Nanomerics. Iwasiewicz-Wabnig. Agnieszka. 2017-10-05. maxwell.cam.ac.uk. 2018-10-21.
  33. Web site: I. Uchegbu - Editorial board - Journal of Controlled Release - ISSN 0168-3659. Elsevier. elsevier.com. 2018-10-21.
  34. Web site: Acknowledgements to Reviewers. eurekaselect.com. 2018-10-21.
  35. Web site: Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu. ucl.ac.uk. 2018-10-21.
  36. Web site: Women of Outstanding Achievement. Pearson. James. electricalreview.co.uk. 12 March 2007 . 2018-10-21.
  37. Web site: Ijeoma Uchegbu Appointed UCL's Pro-Vice Provost for Africa and The Middle East. UCL. UCL School of Pharmacy. 2018-10-21. 2015-10-30.
  38. Web site: Pro-Vice-Provosts (Regional). UCL. UCL Global. 2018-10-21. 2017-06-29.
  39. Web site: Spotlight on Professor Ijeoma F. Uchegbu, Pro-Vice-Provost for Africa and the Middle East. ucl.ac.uk. 2018-10-21. 2016-01-14.
  40. Web site: 27/09/2010, Woman's Hour - BBC Radio 4. BBC. en-GB. 2019-02-28.
  41. Web site: Deans pledge to further race equality at UCL. UCL. UCL Human Resources. 2018-10-21. 2018-07-11.
  42. Web site: University College London is determined to tackle racism Letters. Letters. 2016-11-01. the Guardian. 2018-10-21.
  43. Web site: Black Female Professors in the UK (February 2017) . Solanke . Iyiola . 2019-02-28 . Equality Policy Unit . University of Leeds . 2019-02-28 . 2019-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074612/https://equality.leeds.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2013/10/Black-Female-Professors-Feb-2017.pdf . dead .
  44. Web site: Ijeoma Uchegbu – Black Female Professors Forum. blackfemaleprofessorsforum.org. 2018-10-21.
  45. Book: Uchegbu, L. F.. Synthetic Surfactant Vesicles: Niosomes and Other Non-Phospholipid Vesicular Systems. 2000-02-01. CRC Press. 9789058230119. 1st. Amsterdam. English.
  46. Book: Polymers in Drug Delivery. 2006-05-19. CRC Press. 9780849325335. Uchegbu. Ijeoma F.. 1st. Boca Raton, Fla.. English. Schatzlein. Andreas G..
  47. Book: Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience. 2013-12-09. Springer. 9781461491637. Uchegbu. Ijeoma F.. 2013. New York; Heidelberg. English. Schatzlein. Andreas. Cheng. Woei Ping.
  48. News: 2012 RPS award winners announced. Pharmaceutical Journal. 2018-10-21.
  49. Web site: Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences Eminent Fellows. APSGB. 2018-10-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20181021232130/http://www.apsgb.co.uk/awards/fellows.asp. 2018-10-21. dead.
  50. Web site: College of Fellows Award Recipients. controlledreleasesociety.org. 2018-10-21.
  51. Web site: Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu wins Innovative Science Award. UCL. UCL School of Pharmacy. 2018-10-21. 2016-11-09.
  52. Web site: Honorary Fellows at the Royal Society of Chemistry.

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