Faces of PharmSci: Chibueze Ikeh

What is your academic background and why is this area of research important?

I have training in veterinary medicine and Master’s degree in Pharmacology.

My area of research is on adverse drug reaction, focusing specifically on idiosyncratic drug reaction. This area of research is important to me given my values and belief that pharmacological solutions to human and animal diseases should not be worse than the disease itself.

What led you to your current Supervisor’s research group?

Essentially, I believe what connected me and my supervisor is shared values and goals congruent on the need to develop a better investigational model for developing safer drugs while maintaining efficacy.

What are some of the challenges you had to overcome within your research?

In medical science trying to innovate comes with numerous challenges for many reasons and research in my area of focus is complicated because it involves a lot of physiological systems that are interconnected. So, the challenge here will be time and resources it will take to develop the requisite skills to better understand these mechanisms. 

How do you see your current research playing a role in your career?

At the end my program, I believe this research will have provided me with fulfilment and the satisfaction that I contributed to the larger body of science and specifically in the field of safe drug development. My career will definitely be on fire!

What do you like to do when you are not working on research?

My favorite hobbies include playing soccer, meeting new people, and discussing politics.

Life in Toronto seems to be very individualistic. People tend to mind their business except when they are invited out which is different from where I come from in West Africa. But I am still fascinated how people are surviving the hustle in this very busy city.