An award-winning interdisciplinary scientist, Chioma Okeoma, Ph.D., joined NYMC in 2022. Prior to joining NYMC, Dr. Okeoma was an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York. Dr. Okeoma completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania, from where she moved to the University of Iowa as an assistant professor.
She has been at the forefront of cutting-edge research for which she has received many awards and recognitions, including a medallion from the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, as well as a recipient of the Andy Kaplan Prize from Cold Spring Harbor Retrovirus Meeting. Dr. Okeoma is a fellow of the Lovelace Biomedical in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as a recipient of the Iowa Women of Innovation Awards by the Technology Association of Iowa.
Dr. Okeoma’s vast expertise in innovative research focuses on understanding the biology and functions of extracellular particles, including extracellular vesicles (EVs) and extracellular condensates (ECs). These particles are released from all cells in the body and play a vital role in intercellular communication. She studies how EVs and ECs are involved in immune regulation and host responses to viral infections such as HIV, as well as drug abuse and cancer.
Among her breakthroughs, Dr. Okeoma discovered that elevated levels of the protein BST-2 is linked to poor survival in patients with invasive breast cancer. Dr. Okeoma is examining how THC—the active element in marijuana— affects EV function and composition in patients with HIV and could potentially dampen inflammation that can lead to subsequent neurological dysfunction.
Education
- Ph.D., Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- M.Sc., Federal University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria
- B.Sc., Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria
- Postdoctoral Training, University of Pennsylvania
Areas of Expertise
- Infectious Diseases (virology)
- Breast Cancer
- Drug Abuse
- Extracellular Vesicles
- Extracellular Condensates
Honors and Awards
- Doctoral scholarship, New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Most commendable published paper prize for: Isolation and molecular characterization of Neospora caninum in cattle in New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 52, 364-370. PMID: 15768137 Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, Australia
- Postdoctoral trainee (5-T32-CA-009140-29 to UPENN)
- Andy Kaplan Prize: Cold Spring Harbor Retrovirus Meeting
- American Society for Virology (ASV) Invited Keynote Speaker
- University of Iowa Nominee for Iowa Women of Innovation Awards, Technology Association of Iowa
- Finalist for Iowa Women of Innovation Awards by Technology Association of Iowa
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps Program Award
- University of Iowa Nominee for Iowa Women of Innovation Awards, Technology Association of Iowa
- Recipient of the Iowa Women of Innovation Awards by Technology Association of Iowa
- University of Iowa 2016 inventor Award
- University of Iowa Startup Launched Award
Research
Dr. Okeoma’s laboratory focuses on understanding how host factors expressed in host cells or present in extracellular structures, such as extracellular vesicles and extracellular condensates, protect the host against infective agents or facilitate disease manifestation. Her laboratory has led in defining the role of BST-2 in breast cancer as reported in multiple publications. Additionally, her laboratory studies the interaction of cellular components and extracellular structures and how they interplay to produce spatiotemporal phenotypes observed in physiological and pathophysiological states.
International Grant Review
- Icelandic Research Fund (IRF)
- The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
- Terry Fox Foundation
- The Al Jalila Foundation
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Publications
Professional Service
Select Editorial Work:
- Scientific Reports Editor
- Viruses Special Issue Editor: Viruses and Extracellular Vesicles
Select Manuscript Review Activities:
- Journal of Virology
- Journal of Extracellular Vesicles
- FEBS Letters
- Scientific Reports
- Cell Death and Diseases
- European Journal of Immunology
- Clinical & Experimental Metastasis
- Disease Models & Mechanisms
- Future Virology
- PLos One
- PLos Pathogens
- PLos Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Virology- Elsevier
- Virology- BMC
- Recent Patents on Biomarkers
- BMC Veterinary Research
- BMC Biology
- Bentham Science Publishers
- Medicines
- Human Reproduction
- International Journal of Virology and AIDS
- Point Journal of Medicine and Medical Research (PJMMR)
- Emerging Microbes & Infections
- Journal of Agriculture and Biodiversity Research (JABR)
- African Journal of Microbiology Research
Memberships and Affiliations
- American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
- American Society for Virology (ASV) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee
- American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
- American Society for Exosomes and Microvesicles (ASEMV)
- American Society for biochemistry and microbiology (ASBMB)
- American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI)
Teaching Responsibilities
- Pathogens and Host Defense (small group interactive session)
- Biology and Pathogenesis of Viruses
- Responsible Conduct in Research GRD500 course (authorship, facilitator)
- Selected Topics in Pharmacology (seminar)
- Cell and Tissue Biology (signaling via Extracellular Vesicles)
- Biochemical Lab Techniques
