USask graduate passionate about developing life-saving medicines

University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate Chukwunonso Nwabufo (GPSC’18, MSc’19) has been honoured by Canadian Immigrant Magazine for his contributions to health-care innovation, by being named one of the 2024 winners of the 16th Annual Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.

Nwabufo, who moved to Canada from Nigeria, studied at USask’s College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and earned a Master of Science degree in pharmacy in 2019. He is now completing a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Toronto and is the founder and CEO of OneDrug Inc.

The Green&White asked Nwabufo about the award, his accomplishments, and what inspires him to make positive change in the health-care sector.

This award is a great testament to all my contributions to the development of life-saving medicines for patients struggling with life-threatening diseases. As a first-generation immigrant, I am immensely proud of this achievement and hope it serves as an inspiration to other potential or new immigrants, showing that it is possible to be the first and still achieve great success.

The graduate pharmacy program at the University of Saskatchewan is very research-intensive, with state-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative, supportive environment that was crucial for advancing my career as a young scientist.

I have many fond memories from my time at USask, especially as a resident assistant during move-in days and Orientation week. I appreciated the sense of community at USask, and events within the Nigerian community were always a highlight. One of my favourite experiences was participating in Global Village, which brought together the diverse cultures on campus.

You are not alone. You have a community; lean into it and embrace diversity. Remember that everything you need to be successful is already within you and waiting for you to manifest.

Studying at the University of Saskatchewan provided me with a strong research foundation that has been instrumental in shaping my scientific and academic career. The program equipped me with essential skills in critical thinking, experimental design, laboratory techniques, and data analysis. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work with smart and motivated experts, which broadened my understanding of the field and fueled my passion for innovation. This experience not only strengthened my technical expertise but also enhanced my ability to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences. The program also offered valuable leadership opportunities, allowing me to develop and refine my leadership skills. I progressed from student leadership roles within the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) USask student chapter to now leading the AAPS Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism community, which consists of over 1,200 expert pharmaceutical scientists worldwide.

I am particularly proud of my contributions to the development of Remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 during my time at Gilead Alberta. Being part of a team that developed a life-saving treatment during such a critical global health crisis is one of my most meaningful accomplishments as a pharmacologist.

Each year in Canada, adverse drug reactions result in over 10,000 deaths and more than two million Emergency Department visits, contributing to over $13 billion in health-care costs. This makes it the fourth-leading cause of death in the country. This problem is partly caused by the one-size-fits-all treatment approach, which does not necessarily consider the impact of genetics on how an individual responds to medicines. At OneDrug, we are empowering health-care providers with smart point-of-care genetic testing devices that will help them rapidly test patients for genetic liabilities that may affect their response to medicines, allowing for personalized treatment plans that improve outcomes, reduce adverse reactions, and help cut health-care costs.

There are so many unmet medical needs, which means that there are many patients fighting for their lives as we have yet to develop approved treatments for those incurable diseases. I am committed to playing a pivotal role in developing life-saving medicines for these patients. The more I learn, the greater my contributions will be to advancing drug development.

Experiencing the pharmaceutical industry’s response during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the controversies surrounding various repurposed COVID-19 drugs, highlighted to me that the real-world effectiveness of medicines is often influenced by the specific patient population they are intended for. With multiple clinical trials reaching opposing conclusions for several repurposed COVID-19 drugs, it became evident that patient-specific factors could affect how individuals respond to COVID-19 drugs. This led me to pursue further research to explore how individual differences in COVID-19 pathology might influence the safety and effectiveness of promising COVID-19 treatments. I am deeply grateful to CIHR for funding this important research.

I am inspired to innovate and drive positive change in health care by the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and address unmet medical needs. Seeing the tangible impact that advancements in medicine and technology can have on individuals’ lives motivates me to explore new solutions. The opportunity to contribute to the development of treatments that can save lives, alleviate suffering, and enhance the quality of care fuels my passion for continuous improvement and innovation in the field.