A lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Anatomy at the University of Abuja, Dr Ifukibot Levi Usende, has been awarded a €6,000 prestigious collaborative research grant by the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO).

IBRO is a global association of neuroscience societies dedicated to promoting equitable and inclusive access to neuroscience education, training, research, funding, outreach, and public engagement around the world.

The grant will support a collaborative study between Dr Usende and Distinguished Professor James Connor of the Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State University, USA.

The letter conveying the award of this prestigious grant was signed by Professor Rebecca Hadid, PhD, the Director of Grants and Programmes, IBRO.

Dr Usende, a Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator of the Environmental Toxicology and Neuroscience Unit at UniAbuja, expressed deep gratitude for the highly competitive award.

He explained that the funded research will explore a novel link between the immune system and oligodendrocytes in multiple sclerosis (MS), focusing on the roles of Sema4A and H-ferritin.

“Multiple sclerosis is a progressive demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and its underlying causes remain poorly understood,” Dr Usende explained. “While oligodendrocyte dysfunction is central to MS pathology, the extrinsic and intrinsic factors driving their death are still largely unknown.

“This grant will allow us to investigate H-ferritin as a potential iron delivery protein to oligodendrocytes, offering new insights into nutrient supply and cytotoxicity in MS.”

He noted that current biomarkers for MS are inadequate, and diagnostic methods often lack precision due to the disease’s heterogeneity and unpredictable progression. In Nigeria, MS diagnosis remains limited, underscoring the importance of research that can inform better clinical outcomes.

Dr Usende is no stranger to international recognition.

In 2019, he received a highly competitive travel grant from the International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) to attend a conference in Montreal, Canada and in 2018, he received the University of Verona mobility and development cooperation grant to the laboratory of Professor Marina Bentivoglio (University of Verona, Italy). 

Additionally, he was awarded TETFUND, a Nigerian Institution-Based Research Grant for his neuroscience research.

He was also granted the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) Travel Grant for the 10th IBRO/ISN/GF Neuroscience Teaching Tool Workshop held in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2017, and the International Society for Neurochemistry Grant (Committee for Aid and Education in Neurochemistry (CAEN) Grant) to visit the laboratory of Professor James R. Connor, USA, in 2013.

These grants and recognitions are highly competitive and underscore the impact and significance of Dr Usende’s research contributions.

Dr Usende research group focuses on histology, comparative and neuroanatomy, neurobiology and metal biology, and his published studies have revealed significant toxicological effects of heavy metals especially vanadium on reproductive hormones, organs, including brain structure, and cellular integrity in animal and cell culture models.

Reacting to the development, Acting Head of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Dr Oyelowo-Abdulraheem Fatima Oyenike an Associate of Comparative and Reproductive Anatomy, praised Dr Usende’s achievement, describing it as a testament to his leadership, collaborative spirit, and commitment to cutting-edge research.

“This grant confirms Dr Usende’s potential as a global research partner,” she said. “Dr Usende is the first to win this highly competitive award in the University of Abuja, and our department remains committed to strengthening its research structures and contributing meaningfully to solving societal and global challenges through partnerships like this,” she said.

She congratulated Dr Usende and expressed confidence that he would justify the trust placed in him by IBRO and the University of Abuja.