By Rita Okoye

Nigerian pharmacist and neuroscientist, Osagie A. Emokpae, is making significant strides in neurobiology research, focusing on discovering safer and more effective treatments for brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. With a career spanning over a decade in pharmacy, clinical practice, and academia, Emokpae is now part of a leading team of American scientists investigating novel molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration.

A graduate of Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), Emokpae earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 2014, followed by a Master’s degree in pharmacology and therapeutics from the University of Ibadan (UI), where he was awarded the Dr. Yetunde Olabisi Taiwo Memorial Prize for academic excellence. His research on glutathione precursor compounds in stress and Alzheimer’s disease models has been published in renowned scientific journals, accumulating over 190 citations on Google Scholar.

Driven by a deep passion for neuroscience, Emokpae’s journey into brain research was influenced by the loss of a relative to an autoimmune neurological disorder. His work focuses on genetic tools and the nematode worm C. elegans, an innovative model organism for studying age-related neurodegeneration. His goal is to identify new drug targets that can revolutionize treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.

Before relocating to the U.S. on a full doctoral scholarship, Emokpae worked as a pharmacist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where he mentored over 15 intern pharmacists and served as a clinical preceptor for final-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) students at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). His expertise in mental health and psychopharmacology led him to lecture in two prestigious Nigerian pharmacy schools—IUO’s Professor Dora Akunyili College of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Pharmacy, UNIBEN.

A respected voice in the fight against substance abuse, Emokpae has delivered lectures for organizations such as the Young Pharmacist Group of Nigeria, the Edo State Ministry of Health, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). In 2023, he received a professional merit award from PSN Edo State for his contributions to neuroscience research and pharmacy practice.

Beyond his laboratory research, Emokpae remains committed to mentorship and mental health awareness in Africa. He emphasizes the need for early diagnosis, proper medication adherence, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in neuroscience research. He believes that gene therapy and pharmacogenetics will shape the future of medicine, enabling more personalized treatments for neurological disorders.

“My passion for neuroscience stems from the growing need to discover safer and more effective drug therapies for brain diseases,” says Emokpae. “With the rapid advancements in AI-driven research and gene therapy, I am optimistic that we are on the path to finding long-awaited cures for brain disorders.”

Emokpae is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, the West African Society for Pharmacology, the International Brain Research Organization, the International Society for Neurochemistry, and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

As he continues his groundbreaking research in the U.S., Emokpae remains dedicated to uplifting the next generation of African scientists and pharmacists, ensuring they have access to global opportunities in neuroscience and pharmacology.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/osagie-leads-groundbreaking-research-on-brain-diseases-in-u-s/