Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, a groundbreaking scientist in pharmaceutical nanoscience, shares her inspiring journey from London to Nigeria and her passion for chemistry. She discusses the power of nanoparticles in delivering medicines to challenging areas like the brain and explores their potential in combating the opioid crisis. Ijeoma also reflects on her family’s immigration story, the joys of a surprise Las Vegas wedding, and the importance of diversity in academia. Her insights blend science with personal anecdotes, showcasing resilience and ambition.
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insights INSIGHT
Life is Walking Chemistry
Our bodies and surroundings are full of chemical reactions and compounds.
Every action, including speech, is a walking chemical process, showcasing the omnipresence of chemistry in life.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Father Confronted Racist Harassment
Ijeoma's father faced racist hostility after moving to the UK, including being chased by boys with dogs.
He confronted the situation directly, warning the boys with an axe, which ended the harassment.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Comedy Overcame Isolation in Nigeria
After moving to Nigeria, Ijeoma suffered a painful skin condition that isolated her socially and delayed schooling.
She used comedy and performances to overcome ostracism and eventually made friends, transforming hardship into strength.
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In this Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Frank McCourt recounts his childhood in Brooklyn and Limerick, Ireland. Born to recent Irish immigrants, Frank's family faces severe poverty and hardship due to his father's chronic alcoholism. Despite the dire conditions, Frank's father nurtures his love for storytelling, which becomes a crucial element in his survival. The memoir vividly describes the family's struggles, including near-starvation, the death of siblings, and the casual cruelty of relatives and neighbors, all told with humor, eloquence, and remarkable forgiveness.
Professor Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London and President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge.
She has devoted her career to harnessing the potential of nanoparticles – which are less than a thousandth of the width of a human hair - to take medicines to hard-to-reach areas of the body such as the back of the eye and the brain. Using nanoparticles in this way is said to increase the efficacy of medicines and reduce side effects.
Ijeoma was born in London where her parents had settled from Nigeria. At 13 she moved with her family to Nigeria where she developed an enduring love of chemistry.
In 2010 she co-founded a pharmaceutical company Nanomerics with her husband. The company is currently developing eyedrops to treat blindness and a nasal spray to target pain which she hopes will go some way to addressing the opioid crisis. Earlier this year Ijeoma was appointed a DBE in the King’s New Years Honours List.
Ijeoma lives in Cambridge with her husband Andreas.
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley
DISC ONE: Chop My Money (I Don’t Care) - P-Square
DISC TWO: Joromi - Sir Victor Uwaifo
DISC THREE: Love to Love You Baby - Donna Summer
DISC FOUR: Zombie - Fela Kuti
DISC FIVE: Coat of Many Colours - Dolly Parton
DISC SIX: I Have Nothing - Whitney Houston
DISC SEVEN: Touch Me in The Morning - Diana Ross
DISC EIGHT: I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today - The Crusaders with Joe Cocker
BOOK CHOICE: Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
LUXURY ITEM: A variety of seeds
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today - The Crusaders with Joe Cocker
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