Student article: Olajumoke Olateju – University of Houston

Influencing big changes through research

candidate Olateju’s public health journey inspired by a model’s work in the fraudulent drug market

Inspired by her compatriot’s success in saving countless lives by eliminating the rampant and deadly fake drug trafficking in her native Nigeria, the University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP) Ph.D. Candidate Olajumoke Olateju, BPharm., MSc., works to shed light on population health disparities and barriers that keep effective care out of reach for many patients.

“I chose to study pharmacy because it provides a unique opportunity to influence policies that improve access and use of medicines, impacting large numbers of people simultaneously,” Olateju said.

Growing up, Olateju witnessed the devastating effects of fraudulent drug trafficking. According to a United Nations report, fake medicines kill nearly 500,000 sub-Saharan Africans each year. Many of these drugs are labeled as humanitarian aid and, given that the region is home to the largest percentage of malaria and HIV cases in the world, the trade in fake medicines is as lucrative as it is deadly.

But in the early 2000s, pharmacy expert Professor Dora Akunyili was appointed to head the Nigerian equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration.

“She has done an incredible job cleaning up the drug supply chain system,” Olateju said. “His tenure led to the adoption of policies and measures against counterfeit medicines, and the results have been astonishing.”

The example of the late Akunyili inspired Olateju to become a pharmacist and pursue a specialization in the area of ​​Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy (PHOP).

“I wanted to study pharmacy so I could make impactful changes like Dr. Akunyili,” Olateju said. “His work was very inspiring and I realized that politics could have a significant impact on a wider group of people.”

Public health exposure

After earning her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry, Olateju held an assistant professorship where she trained pharmacy technicians in her home country before joining a U.S.-based organization that implements health programs in several countries.

In her new role, Olateju worked as a pharmacist to coordinate the distribution of antimalarial drugs and diagnostic test kits to hundreds of health facilities. She collected and analyzed health data from all levels of the health system, contributed to the development of malaria treatment guidelines, and helped local government and its affiliates strengthen their health systems.

Her work sparked her interest in population health, and, inspired by her idol’s doctoral training, Olateju seized on a friend’s recommendation to apply to UHCOP and continue her studies.

Impact of mentoring

“I appreciated the various research efforts undertaken by PHOP faculty,” Olateju said, citing the work on HIV education and awareness of UHCOP Professor E. James Essien, MD, Dr.PH . “It resonated with me because of my previous experience.”

As she approaches her fourth year at UHCOP, she has no regrets about her decision.

“I’m really happy that I made the decision to come to the University of Houston,” Olateju said. “It’s really been amazing because they allow us to be independent researchers and critical thinkers, while developing our collaborative skills.”

Under the mentorship of his advisor, UHCOP Associate Professor Douglas Thornton, Pharm.D. Ph.D., Olateju has contributed to several research projects.

“With the right mentorship, you can go far here at UHCOP,” Olateju said. “During my first year, I was able to conduct research that was published in reputable oncology journals. Dr. Thornton helped me hone my skills in cancer research and broaden my interest to substance use disorders, another public health issue.

Putting innovation to work

Olateju’s doctoral research focuses on two disease states: cancer and substance use disorders.

She developed a particular interest in cancer immunotherapy, recognizing its transformative impact on cancer care and its growing indications in various cancer types. His current research focuses on studying differential responses to immunotherapy, as not all patient populations benefit from it, despite its proven effectiveness. Identifying these response variations can help clinicians make more informed treatment decisions and allow them to identify patients who may benefit from specific medications or therapies.

“My next goal is to unravel the complexities associated with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (a type of immunotherapy that helps the immune system fight cancer) for lung cancer, given that not all patients do not respond to this therapy,” Olateju said. “By identifying risk factors for poor response to immunotherapy in diverse patient populations, my research aims to guide clinical decision-making, promote the judicious use of these expensive drugs, and inform future efforts to development of oncological drugs.

“The population results are very important to me. My main interest is working at the population level so that I can assess patient health and the disparities that exist in the system.

Trending success

During her time at UHCOP, Olateju won the award for Best Podium Presentation at the Southern Pharmacy Administration Conference in 2022 and the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting & Expo in 2023. She received support at travel to present his research, including an ISPOR Student Travel Grant and UH Cullen Fellowship Travel Grant, as well as a fellowship from the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists of the Americas (NAPPSA). She was also inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi multidisciplinary collegiate honor society and the Rho Chi Society.

Future plans

Looking ahead, Olateju just wants to be in a position where she can conduct high-quality, impactful research. She wants to help identify a population’s health problems and assess needs to help create policies that can improve population health and identify the most effective treatments.

“I came in with little prior knowledge of many things that I have now mastered, but thanks to the training I received, I was able to accomplish a lot,” she said.

— by Elias Lilienfeld