Returning to His Roots: An Oncology Profile
Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Ogobuiro returned to Nigeria, where he was born, to help improve cancer care.
They say you can’t go home again.
Ifeanyichukwu Ogobuiro, M.D., M.H.S., convincingly disproved that axiom.
Dr. Ogobuiro, a radiation oncology resident at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was born in Nigeria and spent his early years there before coming to the United States for college and medical school. He recently returned to his native country for the first time as an adult to participate in a cancer consortium in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
The attendees included doctors, professors and students from universities and medical centers throughout Northeast Nigeria, one of the country’s six geopolitical zones.
“This meant a lot to me, to come back to my birth country after many years and play a part in helping improve cancer care,” he said. “I was especially pleased because we agreed to remain in contact and share information on behalf of the patients we serve in both the United States and Nigeria.”
His presentation focused on establishing and meeting standards of care for cancer patients in radiation oncology. It also included an overview of his research interests and a precis of his own professional choices.
“By sharing my journey with my Nigerian friends and colleagues, I wanted to show that realizing your dreams is attainable through hard work,” he said.
The cancer consortium wasn’t his only important session back home.
Tragedy Leads to Passion for Caregiving
Dr. Ogobuiro’s journey is a testament to resilience, love and the profound influence of family. His mother died during childbirth, so Dr. Ogobuiro was raised by his aunt Felicia, whom he calls “mom.” Felicia, a dedicated nurse leading a mini-hospital in Abia, Nigeria, instilled a deep passion for caregiving in her family. Dr. Ogobuiro’s siblings pursued nursing while he was drawn to engineering before finding his true calling in medicine.
“The opportunity to directly help patients was a strong motivator,” he reflected.
The bond with his aunt remained strong despite living in the U.S. His recent return to Nigeria featured a poignant reunion with her.
“It was such a special opportunity to see her again, for which I am very grateful,” he said.
The homecoming reaffirmed the enduring values that guide Dr. Ogobuiro’s path.
New Strategies for Glioblastoma Patients
Dr. Ogobuiro is committed to expanding his range of expertise. In addition to his medical degree, he has a master’s degree in health sciences. He will begin the Ph.D. cancer biology program at the Miller School next year while entering the third year of his five-year radiation oncology residency. The Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology is a university-wide interdisciplinary training program focusing on cancer research and identifying novel diagnostics and therapeutic targets.
As part of his residency, he will participate in the 21-month, highly regarded national Holman Pathway, which caters to trainees with strong clinical abilities and a background in research. Under that initiative, he will conduct research to identify new strategies for improving outcomes in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor with a less than 5% survival rate over five years.
His investigations will focus on BRI3 (brain protein I3), a protein-coding gene associated with poor survival for glioma (brain cancer) patients. This includes exploring the mechanisms governing BRI3’s role in radiation resistance and evaluating the therapeutic potential of targeting BRI3 to enhance the effectiveness of radiation.
Dr. Ogobuiro is developing a cell line and pre-clinical models for his research.
“There are days when I arrive at the lab at 5 a.m. to set up my experiments for the day and then return at 5:30 p.m., after my clinical duties, to continue them,” he said. “Some nights, I don’t leave the lab until midnight or even later.”
Why does he do it?
“Having a research background enhances my capacity to deliver informed and nuanced patient care,” Dr. Ogobuiro said. “Sure, it’s a lot of pressure and very demanding. However, these challenges pale in comparison to the daily struggles faced by cancer patients. Their courage and resilience inspire me to persevere in my work, knowing that every effort brings us closer to making a meaningful impact in their lives.”
Dr. Ogobuiro has help maintaining that punishing schedule.
“The only reason that I’m able to do what I’m doing is because of my wife, Imani,” he said. “She is a busy health care executive but is always there to provide support and handle the daily needs of life. She is a rock star.”
Striving for Health Equity
Health equity is a running theme of Dr. Ogobuiro’s research and overall deportment. He intends to merge his ongoing clinical training as a radiation oncologist with his upcoming research training as a radiation biologist to investigate molecular causes of radiation resistance in cancer. His research platform will include a solid mix of Black and non-Black participants.
Currently, representation in similar kinds of studies trails the overall demographics of Black people in the country. That makes it difficult to ascertain whether certain strategies will be equally effective in Black and non-Black populations.
“This is a real challenge for those in health research,” he said. “In addition to doing the science, we have to try and increase the number of Black participants so we can reduce the many health disparities that continue to exist.”
His commitment to equity in the health care world also manifests in other ways. During his recently completed Sylvester T32 Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship, he researched and published his findings on pancreatic cancer, including racial disparities in responses to chemotherapy. Participating in the work were students from the Sylvester-run Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR) internship programs.
SURF exposes students to advanced bioinformatics analytic tools, lab experience and research article analysis skills. DICR provides training and guidance on professional and interpersonal skills. Both initiatives offer undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds paid learning experiences that might lead to biomedical careers.
“I deeply understand the benefits of role models and mentoring,” Dr. Ogobuiro said. “I’ve been especially fortunate in having so many great mentors at Sylvester. This was my chance to give back and possibly inspire these talented young people to pursue a health research career by serving as a role model myself.”
He remains in touch with some of those he mentored, tracking their academic progress and offering encouraging words. Whether conducting vital research on multiple forms of cancer, returning home to Nigeria and sharing knowledge with his compatriots or mentoring young people, Dr. Ogobuiro is driven for even greater things.
Tags: mentoring, NCI T32 grant, pancreatic cancer, residency, Sylverster Comprehensive Cancer Center