Staff profile

Dr Olubukola T. Oyebode


She/Her

Lecturer in Biomedical Science

College

College of Science and Engineering

ORCiD ID

0000-0002-5323-3743

Email

O.Oyebode@derby.ac.uk

About

I am a lecturer in Biomedical Sciences specialising in cell death regulation and cancer therapy. Since 2012, I have worked in various higher education settings, contributing to both teaching and research. I have had the privilege of teaching biochemistry and cancer biology to diverse cohorts including medical, dental, and health sciences students at several institutions. As a biochemist and cancer biologist, I have led numerous research projects that explore effective approaches to modulating cell death in various disease conditions. These projects aim to elucidate the role of regulatory proteins in cell death pathways, enhancing our understanding of disease causation and strategic targeting. Additionally, my research investigates natural compounds capable of modulating pathways involving  identified therapeutic targets, thereby offering potential new avenues for treatment.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach on the undergraduate and postgraduate modules of Biomedical Sciences including Principles of Cellular Biology, Oncology and Immunology, Special Topics in Cancer, Anatomy and Physiology, Cellular Pathology and Patient Screening. I currently lead the module Principles of Cellular Biology. I also supervise Undergraduate and Masters students in their project work.

Research interests

My research focuses on the regulation of cell death, biotherapeutics, and cancer therapy. I am advancing cancer therapy by understanding the mechanisms of cell death that enable cancer cells to evade drug targets, and by identifying bioactive agents that can modulate these pathways.

My doctoral research explored the therapeutic manipulation of mitochondrial-mediated cell death for the treatment of cancer using naturally occurring bioactive agents isolated from Calliandra portoricensis. This study proposed the first molecular mechanism by which these agents induce apoptotic cell death in prostate cancer cell lines. My postdoctoral training at the University of Tübingen in Germany expanded this research to explore additional cell death pathways mediated by bioactive compounds purified from this plant.

Currently, I am passionate about and engaged in projects that utilize non-pharmacological interventions, specifically Branched Chain Amino Acids, to investigate the mechanisms of ferroptosis sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). My goal is to uncover novel therapeutic targets and metabolic signatures that can lead to more effective treatment strategies for TNBC.

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Recent conferences

International experience

Recent publications