Optimising Natural Killer Cells against Cancers - GSS 2.0 (4/4) - Segun Afolaranmi

ImmunoAfrica's Graduate Student Series offers emerging and aspiring immunologists the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by some of the most talented immunology graduate students from Africa.

For its second edition, this year, we peek into the fascinating work and busy lives of 4 graduate students (Vania, Onyeka, Deo-Gracias, and Segun), representing 3 African countries: Benin, Mozambique, and Nigeria.

Our fourth and last guest is Segun Afolaranmi.
Segun trained as a medical doctor at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and went on to complete his intern year of clinical practice. He developed a keen interest in cancer research and immunology towards the end of medical school, after noticing the grossly limited treatment options available to cancer patients in Nigeria.

The desire to develop effective anticancer therapies that'd fit this context led him to study for a master's in Integrated Immunology at the University of Oxford, as a Clarendon Scholar. Shortly after his master's, he joined the de la Roche lab at Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Institute, in January 2022 to pursue his PhD in Cancer Immunology, with funding from the Gates Cambridge Trust. His PhD research seeks to make immune cells better cancer fighters by modifying an important developmental pathway.

Alongside his scientific interests, Segun is passionate about expanding training opportunities for young scientists in Africa and working with others to accelerate access to cancer therapeutics on the continent. He is a co-founder of The Ganglion Initiative (TGI).

This episode explores his journey to becoming fascinated with cancers and immunology, highlights what makes natural killer (NK) cells special to him, and curates his perspectives on local support for scientific research and development in Africa.

Female Intro/Outro Voice-over: Ruth Ogboye

Timestamps:
00:00 - intro, about guest
02:56 - career background, early journey into immunology
05:19 - varied experience and exposures shape research interests
08:19 - how interest in cancer immunology developed
11:15 - updates on PhD research (making immune cells better cancer fighters)

16:37 - about natural killer (NK) cells

20:48 - cancers he's interested in tackling

22:38 - on collaborations (in cancer research; in Africa)

25:54 - local support for research and development in Africa

30:44 - PhD experience (time management, core values, lab skills and mistakes, etc.)
39:38 - about The Ganglion Initiative
43:36 - next steps post-PhD
45:31 - fun tasks (which scientists in your field of study inspire you; transform CANCER into an immunology acronym)
49:00 - outro