Folakemi T. Odedina, PhD (shown left), Joint Professor in Radiation Oncology, Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, has been appointed (non-paid appointment) by the Nigeria National Universities Commission to lead an initiative that will bridge Nigerian Academics to Academics in the Diaspora willing to contribute to the Nigerian University System in the area of biomedical sciences.
“As expressed by one of my colleagues in Nigeria,” said Dr. Odedina, “‘this appointment is the ultimate recognition of [my] leadership in biomedical research given all the accomplished Nigerian scientists in the Diaspora’. I am excited to continue to give back to Africa and further extend our global research collaborations.”
Dr. Odedina is also a leader of the IRONMAN project coordinating center, primarily recruiting Black men with advanced prostate cancer in Florida and Africa. The purpose of IRONMAN, or the International Registry to Improve Outcomes in Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer, is to establish a prospective, international cohort of minimum 5,000 men with advanced cancer, including men with mHSPC and M0/M1 CRPC.
IRONMAN will create a population-based registry and recruit patients across academic and community practices from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (UK), and the US. This cohort study will facilitate a better understanding of the variation in care and treatment of advanced prostate cancer across countries and across academia and community based practices. A UF JAX site as well as four sites in Nigeria will be opened for the project. For more information, visit clinicaltrials.gov.
Dr. Odedina has also been appointed to the American Cancer Society (ACS) National Advisory Team focused on Prostate Cancer Disparities among Black men. With support from Pfizer Inc., the Team comprises multi-disciplinary experts and thought leaders in the field of prostate cancer and cancer disparities. Members of this group will have the opportunity to help design and shape the community (ACS) grants program.
Congratulations, Dr. Odedina!
