A Nigerian Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience, Ijeoma Uchegbu, known for her ground-breaking work in nanoparticle drug delivery, has been announced as the seventh President of Wolfson College, one of the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge.
She will succeed the current President, Professor Jane Clarke, on October 1, 2024.
Professor Uchegbu is currently a professor of pharmaceutical neuroscience at University College London (UCL).
She was raised in South East Nigeria and Hackney.
She completed her pharmacy studies at the University of Benin in 1981 before attending the University of Lagos to obtain her master’s degree.
Because of infrastructure issues, she was unable to finish her doctorate in Nigeria. After returning to the UK, she studied postgraduate work at the University of London, earning a PhD in 1997.
Alexander (Sandy) Florence, the Dean of the School of Pharmacy, supervised her dissertation. From 2002 to 2004, she worked as a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde.
Her pioneering work on the mechanisms of drug transport has led to the development of new treatments that promise to transform pain relief, including the enkephalin pain medicine candidate (EnveltaÔ™), designed to address the opioid crisis.
With her visionary leadership and extensive experience in academia, Professor Ijeoma is set to make a profound impact on the college’s future.
Her appointment brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge that will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of the college.
