MSc grad braves a world of change to pursue a career in radiopharmacy and neuroscience
By Natalie Ebel
A naturally shy person, Olujide Oyeniran prefers to steer clear of the spotlight.
Despite being somewhat reserved, Oyeniran continuously stepped out of his comfort zone throughout his time at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry – starting with the decision to leave Nigeria and come to Canada to pursue his MSc in Medical Biophysics.
From working as a pharmacist in Nigeria, to conducting groundbreaking research in neuroimaging and radiopharmaceuticals (pharmaceutical drugs containing radioactive isotopes), to providing advice for international students considering Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Oyeniran shares the details of his experience in the following Q&A.
Can you share your background, previous work experiences, and where you completed your undergraduate degree?
Prior to coming here to complete my Master's, I completed my undergraduate degree in Pharmacy at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. I took courses such as pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and clinical pharmacy, which all laid a strong foundation for my MSc studies. In my final year at the University of Ibadan, I completed a capstone project examining the anthelmintic activity (medicines used to destroy parasitic worms) of leaf extracts and fractions – this project sparked my interest in research. After my undergraduate studies, I completed a one-year internship and worked as a pharmacist in a community pharmacy.
Why did you decide to come to Canada, and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry in particular, to pursue your Master's degree?
After working in the community pharmacy for about three and a half years, I wanted something more challenging and related to research. During that period, I had an interview with a nuclear medicine department at a hospital in Nigeria for a career in radiopharmacy. This experience presented an opportunity for additional training outside the country. It didn’t work out due to COVID-19, but it left a desire to continue to pursue a career in the field of radiopharmacy. Fortunately, I learned about a recruitment opportunity at Justin Hicks and Udunna Anazodo’s lab, which aligns perfectly with my research interests and career aspirations. To top it off, I learned that Schulich Medicine & Dentistry was the ideal place to combine my interest in radiopharmacy and my long-time fascination with the how the brain works.
Can you provide us with an overview of your research and the projects you worked on throughout your MSc program?
My MSc research focused on enabling universal utility of neuroimaging, particularly in the field of Alzheimer’s and related dementia. One of my projects provided a perspective on using neuroimaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in understanding dementia in low-resource regions such as Africa, where I come from. There is already a global disparity in the use of these tools due to their resource intensiveness. Unfortunately, Africa and other low-resource regions in the world are projected to have the highest population of people living with dementia in the next two decades. Consequently, there is a need to develop low-cost imaging solutions in this region, not just for the region to be better prepared, but to also improve the general understanding of dementia.
My second project redesigned the production of [11C]-butanol, an effective radiopharmaceutical for brain blood flow assessment. We optimized its production on a commercial synthesizer, enabling safer and more reproducible use across various sites. This is crucial as MRI can underestimate brain blood flow, an important clinical parameter.
Over the two years of my MSc studies, I was able to introduce a new approach to [11C]-butanol and showcased this work in four national and international conferences. Efforts are underway at my MSc advisor’s lab to validate my production approach and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for reintroduction of [11C]-butanol in imaging brain blood flow in humans.
What was the highlight of your experience here?
My most memorable experience was my laboratory colleagues and the collegial atmosphere they provided, which made adjusting to life in Canada more comfortable. The collaborative environment my supervisors created made integration into two labs seamless and enabled me to quickly hone my skills in analytical thinking, problem solving and laboratory techniques, while gaining new knowledge in brain blood flow imaging. This experience was pivotal in shaping my academic and professional journey.
What advice do you have for other international students considering coming here to study?
It is important to know it may be overwhelming at first when coming into a different environment with a different culture and weather. For instance, I came to Canada during the winter and that was my first time experiencing such cold weather. So, it is important to have this understanding in the back of your mind. But remember, the fact that it may be overwhelming at first doesn’t mean that feeling is going to last forever. The systems are in place to support you throughout your time here from the international student office to the departmental office. Try to reach out and don’t be shy to seek help.
What are your future career plans, and how do you hope to make a positive impact in your field?
I am currently working to further my studies and applying for PhD programs with opportunities to further explore research at the intersection of radiopharmacy and neuroscience. In the meantime, I am working as a research associate developing methods to better understand barriers in neuroimaging. I hope to continue contributing to the development of neuroimaging locally here in Canada and, more importantly, for use in resource-limited regions to democratize neuroimaging.
