Researcher of the Month

	PhD Zoology (Cellular Parasitology), University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Head of Cellular Parasitology Programme, Cell Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Principal Investigator, MIM/TDR Project ID No A60143.
Dr. Roseangela Ifeyinwa Nwuba

Contact information:
Cellular Parasitology Programme, Cell Biology and Genetics Unit,
Department of Zoology,
Faculty of Science,
University of Ibadan,
Ibadan, NIGERIA
Tel (Office): +234 2 8102070 Ext 1406
Tel (Home): +234 2 8107547
Mobile: +234 8033715621
Email: rnwuba@yahoo.com

Research profile
Dr Nwuba’s present area of research is in the immunological characterisation of a malaria vaccine candidate (merozoite surface protein 1) and exploring its use as a marker for immune protection against malaria. She has received grants from the UNDP/WORLD BANK/WHO Special Programme and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Wellcome Trust and the Malaria Research Capacity Strengthening in Africa (MIM)/TDR for research in Trypanosomiasis and Malaria. She has also supervised several students for their MSc, one at the PhD level and is currently supervising two PhD students.
She has published her research findings in reputable peer-reviewed journals and presented her work in many international conferences. Working together with Prof A. B. Odaibo and Dr Anumudu they have been able ensure a continuity of Malaria Research at the Cellular Parasitology Programme founded by Professor Mark Nwagwu.

Background
Dr Roseangela Nwuba (nee Molokwu), obtained her Bachelor of Science in 1982 at the University of Jos, Nigeria and came to the University of Ibadan for her Masters degree in Parasitology. She graduated in 1984 and was immediately employed by the University as an Assistant Lecture in the Department of Zoology. She became the first student to enrol for her PhD in the newly founded postgraduate programme in Cellular Parasitology under the supervision of Prof. Mark Nwagwu. She received a research training fellowship from the UNDP/WORLD BANK/WHO Special Programme and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) to complete her PhD project at the Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin with Prof. Keith Tipton as her co-supervisor (1988-1990).

She defended her PhD thesis in 1997 after a long interval, during which she was blessed with a loving husband and three wonderful children.

She has since, after her defence, been awarded a Research Training Fellowship Grant from the Wellcome Trust for a postdoctoral training at the National Institute for Medical Research, London under the supervision of Dr. Anthony Holder (2002-2004) and she has co-supervised a MIM/TDR project titled, “Antibodies that inhibits malaria surface protein-1 processing and erythrocyte invasion” with Prof. Nwagwu as the Principal investigator (1998-2001). This first MIM/TDR project formed a solid basis for capacity building and mentoring of younger scientists like her, to ensure the continuity of malaria research at the Cellular Parasitology Programme, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Dr Nwuba is currently the Head of the Cellular Parasitology Programme, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria and a member of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Scientific Review Committee for Ethics. She has also served as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemers’ University, Nigeria (2006-2007) and has facilitated many scientific workshops including that of the Malaria Immunology and Pathogenesis network (MIMPAC) of which she is a member. She has been involved in the research training of postgraduate students not only from Nigeria but from other African countries (Kenya, Cameroon, and Gabon). At the academic level, she has been involved, since 1985, in the teaching at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in courses on the molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology and genetics of tropical parasites with emphasis on Trypanosoma and Plasmodium species; and has served in several committees and departmental administrative assignments.

Her malaria research group has enjoyed close successful collaborative research links with Dr Anthony Holder and Dr Jean Langhorne of the Department of Parasitology, National Institute for Medical Research London; as well as scientists from the Departments of Paediatrics and that of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. It is envisaged that that with sustained funding the Cellular Parasitology Programme, University of Ibadan will grow into a “Centre of Excellence” for research in the Molecular Biology and Immunology of Malaria in Tropical Africa.