Dr. Onyema Ogbuagu, the Nigerian doctor and University of Calabar -trained medical doctor who is at the middle of the Pfizer-led research, development and trials that have culminated in a breakthrough for COVID-19 vaccines, has joined the growing the list of Nigerian diasporans whose excellent accomplishments have brought unmatched glory to their homeland.
Recall that Pfizer, after the ground-breaking conclusion of its last stage trials, announced that its COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective. Shortly after, Moderna similarly reported that its dimension of the dreaded COVID-19 vaccine was emphatically 94 per cent effective.
Coming on the heels of these announcements, came Dr Onyema Ogbuagu, a Nigerian by heritage or parentage who disclosed in an interview aired by ABC that he has been patiently involved in the trials of the vaccines by Pfizer.
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The ABC interview has triggered excitement among Nigerians specifically, and Africans in general.
Ogbuagu who is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine and infectious disease specialist at Yale School of Medicine revealed that he was most excited about the results of the clinical trials. But who is Dr Onyema Ogbuagu?
Dr Ogbuagu graduated from of the College of medicine at the University of Calabar in 2003 and thereafter moved to the United States. According to him, though there are insufficient doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for all across the world at this point in time, that would be a thing of the past by the first quarter of 2021 as doses would be available to address growing concerns.
Recall that Pfizer has declared that it would soon launch a pilot project in four states in the United States, “but there have been concerns as the vaccine needed to be stored at -94 degrees Fahrenheit (-70 degree Celsius).”
To address this concern, Ogbuagu disclosed that arrangements have reached advanced stage to surmount those concerns.
Ogbuagu, who is currently an associate Professor of Medicine(AIDS) at Yale Medical School, said his clinical, educational and research interests revolve around improving the care and health outcomes of individuals living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS in domestic and international settings.
According to data sourced from his profile at the Yale School of Medicine website, Ogbuagu has been the Yale principal investigator on a series of therapeutic case studies and preventative clinical trials for COVID-19, including remdesivir (now FDA approved), leronlimab and remdesivir and tocilizumab combination therapy as well as the Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine trial
Also since 2011, he has been a member of the Yale AIDS Clinical Trials Program, and the Director of the Program (since May 2017). In addition, Ogbuagu has been a principal and or co-investigator on numerous pharmacokinetic, phase 2 and 3 safety and efficacy trials of novel antiviral compounds (HIV).
Ogbuagu who took his first degree in Medicine from the University of Calabar, Nigeria was most involved in the clinical trials of the vaccine dealing with covid -19 pandemic.
Most recently, given the alarming rate of new infections among men who have sex with men (MSM), he was reportedly added to the HIV prevention trials among his clinical trials activities.
He is one of the twin sons of Prof. Chibuzo Ogbuagu, an erstwhile Vice Chancellor Abia State University and SSG of Abia state. He was born in New Haven, CT, United States when his parents went to Yale for their doctoral programmes.
Upon their return to Nigeria, Onyema studied Medicine at the University of Calabar. He later returned to the United States thereafter, and consequently settled down at Yale.
His role at Yale entails educating and training medical students, handling residency and infectious diseases fellows in various capacities, including in inpatients and outpatients settings; and through structured course work and lecturing roles.
