Alash'le Abimiku
Alash'le Grace Abimiku | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nigeria |
| Alma mater | Ahmadu Bello University; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine |
| Occupation(s) | Virologist, professor |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | HIV prevention and treatment research |
Alash'le Grace Abimiku serves as the executive director of the International Research Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria and holds a professorship in virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with a research emphasis on HIV prevention and treatment strategies.
Early life and education
Originating from Nigeria, Abimiku pursued her undergraduate studies in microbiology at Ahmadu Bello University. She then obtained a master's degree in 1983 and later completed her PhD in 1998 at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, concentrating on retrovirology and immune defense mechanisms against Campylobacter jejuni infections.
Research and career
Following her doctoral studies, Abimiku undertook postdoctoral research under the mentorship of Robert Gallo at the National Cancer Institute, where she facilitated collaborative efforts between Nigerian researchers and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
In 2004, she co-established the IHVN Campus initiative in collaboration with the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland. Together with Gallo, she inaugurated the International Center for Scientific Culture—World Laboratory AIDS Research Center located in Jos. While initially concentrating on isolating HIV strains, her focus evolved toward screening programs and educational outreach, during which she identified Nigeria’s dominant non-B HIV subtype linked to subtype G. She has been a strong proponent for incorporating African HIV variants into AIDS Vaccine development efforts.
That same year, Abimiku obtained funding from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to create partnerships aimed at tackling HIV and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection. Her research encompasses molecular epidemiology, drug resistance profiling, and establishing cohorts for HIV-related investigations.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s significant challenge with TB and HIV co-infections that contribute to multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), Abimiku and IHVN launched Africa’s inaugural Biosafety Level-3 laboratory in 2010 to study MDR-TB and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDRTB). This facility facilitates prompt diagnosis supporting the achievement of UNAIDS 90-90-90 objectives.
In 2012, she spearheaded the establishment of an International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) biobank under the NIH-backed H3 Africa initiative, enhancing the capacity for biological specimen storage in environments with limited resources.
Abimiku has been instrumental in advancing PEPFAR initiatives toward sustainable local governance by national authorities and indigenous entities. In 2018, she co-launched the International Research Centre of Excellence at IHVN to strengthen African scientific expertise and promote research tailored to specific country needs.
Academic service
Abimiku participates as an advisory member for both the University of Cape Town and the World Health Organization Research and Development Blueprint. She formerly chaired the African Society of Laboratory Medicine’s board and served on the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research board. Her previous roles include contributions to the WHO HIV vaccine advisory panel and AIDS Vaccine program. Additionally, she is involved with the Wellcome Trust Longitudinal Population Studies Committee.
Notable Publications
Among her significant works are:
- Challenges and Prospects in Tuberculosis Laboratory Diagnosis within Low-Resource Settings
- Longitudinal Study of Patient Retention and Antiretroviral Adherence in a Major Nigerian Therapy Program: Identifying Risk Factors
- A Decade Review of HIV-1 Genetic Variation across Africa