Unravelling Viral Diseases: How the Immune System Responds to the Lassa Fever Virus - Dr. Chinedu Ugwu

Chinedu Alphonsus Ugwu (PhD) holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with distinctions from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Master of Science in Integrated Immunology from the University of Oxford, UK, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Sciences from the University of Cambridge, UK. He specializes in translational immunology, vaccine, immunotherapeutic designs for pathogens, and one health approach to tackling disease outbreaks. He currently lectures in the Biological Sciences Department at Redeemer’s University, taking undergraduate and postgraduate classes in immunology, virology, bioethics, biosafety, and biological techniques. He also doubles as a post-doctoral research fellow at the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID), where he leads several projects. One such projects is a Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC)-funded project on One Health and accelerating Vaccines for Ebola and Lassa Fever (OVEL). His research focuses on understanding how the immune system modulates the outcome of viral infections. By elucidating the correlates of protective immune response to viral infections such as Lassa fever virus, SARS-CoV-2, and other endemic viral diseases in West Africa, he aims to contribute to vaccine and therapeutic designs, diagnostics production, and informed public health policies for the diseases. This episode explored Dr. Ugwu's works on viral diseases with a specific focus on his recent publication which evaluated immune responses to the Lassa Fever Virus in survivors and exposed contacts of the disease. You can learn more about the publication here (www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26045-w). Time stamps: 00.00 - intro; 02.20 - overview of education and current role; 04.50 - why immunology research?; 08.10 - overview of research in immunology; 12.10 - recent publication: findings and implications + questions; 29.10 - what are you up to now?; 33.40 - the impact of existing immunity on vaccination; 37:55 - how the field of immunology can inform the discovery of new/misdiagnosed diseases?; 47:00 - final words; 50.25 - outro