Biochemistry & Nutrition Department

    The Biochemistry and Nutrition Department seeks to conduct research to provide Biochemistry and Nutrition based information on the pathogenesis, treatment, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases of public health importance in Nigeria. The Department has two research centers and several units. The centers are:

    Centre for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CRTCAM)

    The activities of the Centre for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CRTCAM) majorly involve evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines in Nigeria, and the in vivo and in vitro assessment of herbal products using animal models and cell lines respectively.

    The Malaria Genomics Research and Training Center (MGRTC)

    supports research in NIMR and the country at large, bridging gaps in research findings and implementation through best practices of translational research, into solving problems of malaria and related diseases in the region. Malaria research activities include epidemiology and parasite population genetics, malaria immunogenomics, vaccine design, malaria drug resistance and efficacy studies. The Center boasts a functional parasite culture laboratory supported by a tissue culture laboratory in the department.

    Other Research Units

    The Malaria Genomics Research and Training Center

    Is managed by the Biochemistry and Nutrition department under the Center for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CRTCAM). It houses experimental animals that are used for in vivo studies. We conduct research on safety and efficacy profiles of herbal products and plant extracts.

    Vaccine Research and Development Laboratory

    The Vaccine Research and Development laboratory is a crucial arm of the Department of Biochemistry dedicated to experimenting, designing, and preclinical testing of potential vaccines candidates to combat various diseases.

    Nutrition

    Our Nutrition Unit explores the intricate interplay between diet and health. Studies range from molecular mechanisms to population-based studies, aiming to decipher how nutrition influences human health across the lifespan. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we investigate the role of dietary patterns and nutrient metabolism in chronic disease prevention and management with a focus on promoting health equity

    Completed Research Activities for 2023

    1. Pre-Clinical Immunogenicity and Toxicity Testing of Ii-Key SARS-COV-2 Peptide Vaccine
    2. Five herbal products were submitted to the Centre for safety evaluation, all of the 5 products were tested for acute and/or subacute toxicity studies.
    3. Anti-malarial activities of herbal products (4)
    4. Bacterial cloning and protein expression for COVID vaccine
    5. In Silico antigen mapping & multiepitope design for pan-Lassa vaccine design
    6. A Novel non-kelch-13 Artemisinin resistance marker: Investigating Association with Artemisinin Resistance in comparison with Kelch-13 propeller gene among Plasmodium falciparum malaria subjects in Lagos, Nigeria.
    7. Malnutrition and innate immune responses in Malaria

    Ongoing Research Activities for 2023

    1. Continuing Proof of Concept Study to evaluate the safety, efficacy and tolerability of Jemchi Herbal Products in Adults Patients with Prostate Cancer, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Osteoarthritis
    2. Evaluation of metabolite biomarkers and genetic markers for diagnosis of T2DM among HIV patients with TB co-infection in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
    3. Placental malaria: The impact of immune responses on pregnancy outcomes among primigravidae and secundigravidae in Ikorodu, Lagos state, Southwest Nigeria.
    4. Protein purification and characterization of protein by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot for SARS-CoV antigens
    5. Animal studies including safety and toxicology studies with disease model
    6. Expression of conserved Lassa Virus Antigens in Escherichia coli expression vectors
    7. Production of Chicken IgY antibodies and evaluation of their immunodiagnostic potentials.
    8. Malaria malariometry studies in Osun State
    9. Ex-vivo and in-vitro sensitivity of Nigeria Plasmodium falciparum isolates from NC and SW Nigeria to various antimalarial drugs.
    10. In vivo therapeutic efficacy study of artemisinin/lumefantrine therapies in Lagos and Ilorin including determination of the Omic Correlates of Artemisinin-based Combination therapies in Nigeria.
    11. CRISPR/cas9 functional genomics investigation of a non-kelch-13 ART resistance maker among lab and clinical parasites populations in Nigeria.
    12. In vitro characterization of invasion pathways of Nigerian isolates of P. falciparum. Characterization of important population-specific P falciparum vaccine candidate antigens
    13. Placental Malaria: The impact of Immune Responses on Pregnancy Outcomes among Primigravidae and Secundigravidae in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
    14. Materno-Fetal Transfer of Micronutrients – Iron, Zinc, and Iodine – and Vitamins – A, D, And E – among first-time pregnant women with and without placental malaria in Lagos State Southwest Nigeria
    15. Consumption pattern of carbohydrate and dietary fibre among black adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Nigerian pilot study
    16. Molecular and temporal survey of the emergence of resistance phenotypes following mass administration of azithromycin in six states of Nigeria.
    17. Food consumption habits amongst varying stages of adolescents with metabolic syndrome in Lagos State.
    18. Energy drink intake among university students in Nigeria and its effects on sleep patterns and academic performance of students during the examination period.
    19. Out-of-pocket expenses for health in an urban setting in Lagos State
    20. Biophysical profile of secondary students with metabolic syndrome in Lagos State

     

    ACHIEVEMENTS

    1. Successful design and validation of two vaccine constructs for Lassa fever and SARs-CoV.
    2. Establishment of a Journal club comprising staff and interns where relevant articles are discussed and new knowledge obtained.
    3. The unit is responsible for managing three grants, TETFUND grant and two internal NIMR grant
    4. Successful conduct of annual malaria microscopy training sessions
    5. Successfully hosted an international bioinformatics training successfully
    6. Successful conduct of household malariometric survey amongst children aged 2 to 18 months in Osun State
    7. Maintained continuous culture of Nigeria Plasmodium falciparum field isolates ongoing
    8. Four (6) herbal medicinal products were screened for acute toxicity Three (4) herbal medicinal products are ready for clinical studies ethical approval has been given by NIMR-IRB, three (3) manuscripts are under review, and five (5) Published Papers.
    9. Progress in career development of personnel
      • Dr Olukosi presented the Distinguished Lecture at the ICHAIR 2023
      • Dr Veronica Enya successfully defended her PhD dissertation
      • There were 2 promotions in the department
    • Ms Susan Holdbrooke was promoted to Research Fellow 1 and
    • Mr Oluwadamilare Bamgbose to Scientific Officer 1