A female
student of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Sandra
Musujusu, has developed an alternative treatment for breast cancer.
The
scientific breakthrough might lead to a lasting solution in the treatment of
breast cancer prevalent among women world over.
This was
made known on Tuesday in Abuja when the World Bank Education Director, Dr Jaime
Saavedra Chanduvi with his team visited the University as part of his
assessment tour of the 10 African Centres of Excellence (ACE) centres.
The World
Bank has committed about $10 billion for the ACE project in Nigeria, as part of
efforts to encourage conduct of cutting-edge research and specialisation of the
beneficiaries institutions in specific development problems faced in Nigeria
and indeed the African continent.
AUST is
hosting one of the Centres of Excellence, known as Pan African Material
Institute (PAMI), with research focus electrical power, disease detection and
treatment.
Musujusu’s
research, using macromolecular science is aimed at developing bio-degradable
polymer material which could be used as alternative for the treatment of breast
cancer in the near future.
She revealed
that her research focuses on triple negative breast cancer which is the
aggressive sub-type of breast cancer that is common with women from African
ancestry.
Musujusu, a
Sierra-Leonian national is conducting the research under the sponsorship of the
Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI).
Out of 19
African Centres of Excellence, 10 Nigerian tertiary institutions won slots to
churn out special research works that could compete effectively with global
standards.
The ACE
universities include Redeemers University, Mowe; Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria; University of Jos, Jos; University of Benin and African University of
Science and Technology, Abuja.
Others are University
of Port-Harcourt; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; Bayero University, Kano;
Benue State University, Makurdi; and Federal University of Agriculture,
Abeokuta.
It would be
recalled that when the Ebola Virus Disease broke out in Nigeria in the year
2014, one of the ACE centres, Redeemers University served as the testing site
before it was brought under control.
Musujusu
said, “My research is actually centred on the development of bio-degradable
polymers for treatment of breast cancer.”
“I will be
focusing on triple negative breast cancer which is actually the aggressive
sub-type of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.”
“I believe
there is a bright future for Africa, and as a woman there is much more we can
do if we are empowered. This award given to me by PAMI has empowered me to face
my studies with more confidence and actually contribute to the frontier of
knowledge and move Africa forward.”
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