Nigerian-born cell biologist honoured in America for his research on cancer

Tobiloba Oni, a Nigerian-born cell biologist whose graduate research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory helped open new paths for understanding, detecting, and potentially treating pancreatic cancer—has been appointed as a Whitehead Fellow in the United States of America.

A press statement issued by the Whitehead Institute and seen by Legit.ng on Monday, November 30, revealed that Oni will join Whitehead Institute and launch his independent research career in February 2021.

Whitehead Institute is a world-renowned, non-profit scientific institution dedicated to improving human health through basic biomedical research.

Part of the statement read:

“Tobi brings immense creativity and technical insight to the search for ways to prompt the immune system to more effectively recognize and destroy malignant cells in the microtumor environment. “We are so pleased to have him joining our cohort of dynamic, early-career investigators.”Tobiloba Oni has been appointed a Whitehead fellow.Photo credit: @WhiteheadInst
Source: Twitter

Oni, who grew up in Ikare-Akoko, Nigeria, earned a BS in biology in 2011 from State University of New York at Plattsburgh and a PhD in cell and molecular biology in 2020 from Stony Brook University, where he won the institution’s Scholars in Biomedical Science award.

In a related development, a lady identified as Ogunmola Sowemimo has been celebrated as the first Nigerian female Boeing 787 pilot and the first Nigerian female pilot to fly for Qatar Airways.

The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, took to her Twitter page to celebrate the Nigerian pilot recently.

Meanwhile, the projected United States president-elect Joe Biden will be announcing a Nigerian-born attorney, Adewale 'Wally' Adeyemo, as deputy treasury secretary according to media reports monitored in the US.

According to the reports, Adeyemo will serve under former Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen, who will be appointed to lead the US Treasury Department.