Discovery
The Life Scientific - Ijeoma Uchegbu
Mar 3, 2025
Ijeoma Uchegbu, a Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London, is revolutionizing drug delivery with nanoparticles that target hard-to-reach areas in the body. She shares her inspiring journey from being a foster child to a single mom pursuing a PhD. Ijeoma's groundbreaking research aims to treat conditions like blindness with innovative eyedrops. Passionate about equity in science, she also discusses her role in promoting diversity and her unique approach of using stand-up comedy to make complex science accessible.
26:28
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Quick takeaways
- Ijeoma Uchegbu's pioneering work on nanoparticles aims to revolutionize drug delivery for hard-to-treat conditions such as blindness and pain management.
- Her personal journey highlights resilience, showing how she balanced single motherhood with her PhD and advocated for racial equality in academia.
Deep dives
Innovative Drug Delivery Through Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles, which are extremely small particles less than a thousandth of the width of a human hair, hold great promise in improving targeted drug delivery. This method allows for medication to be directed precisely to areas that need treatment, such as the brain and retina, thus enhancing effectiveness while minimizing side effects. For example, researchers are exploring the use of nanoparticles to develop eye drops for conditions like age-related macular degeneration, which traditionally require painful injections directly into the eye. By utilizing these nanoscale carriers, the aim is to revolutionize treatments for various health issues, including pain management and vision loss.
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