TOPIC: New order in Physiological Science Research, Training and Professional Practice
Ebenezer Olatunde, FAS, FAAS, FRSC, ATS, FNSBMB, FAMedS is a Professor of Biochemistry and Toxicology at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A quondam Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, he is currently the Director, Molecular Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Laboratories in the University. He is also the President of the Forum of Nigerian Toxicologists (FONTOX) and Vice President, Society for Free Radical Research Africa (SFRR-Africa). He is the current Academic Secretary of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) and member of the Governing Council of this Apex Scientific body in Nigeria.
Professor Farombi’s cherished academic career in the University has spanned 34 years. After successful completion of his PhD programme, he proceeded to the University of Liverpool, England under the World Bank Project Staff Development Programme for Postdoctoral training with Dr. George Britton, a distinguished scholar and former President of International Carotenoid Society, as his preceptor. He had another UNESCO-MCBN sponsored Postdoctoral training in Denmark where he worked with three academic giants in the field of Chemical Carcinogenesis—Dr. Lars Dragsted of the Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology, Soborg, Professor Steffen Loft, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen and Professor Herman Autrup (former President of International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX) of the Department of Environmental Health, University of Aarhus, Denmark. Professor Farombi was at different times Visiting Professor to several world-class institutions in countries spanning 5 continents of the world and this engagement has resulted in collaboration and networking with over 100 scientists.
Undoubtedly, Professor Farombi has exceled and distinguished himself nationally and internationally in research. His research areas over the past 25 years have been on Molecular Toxicology, Cellular Oxidative Stress Mechanisms, Reproductive and Environmental Toxicology, Antioxidant Redox Biochemistry, Nutraceuticals as Prophylactic agents and Nutrigenomics as well as natural product Biotechnology. He is known Nationally and Internationally for his novel works on the elucidation of the Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms of Chemoprevention of Phytochemicals. For instance, he has led national, regional and international research works on characterizing Garcinia kola (Bitter kola) of the Guttiferae family and derived phytochemicals as physiologically relevant chemopreventive agents and the research effort has resulted in the patenting of 4 new novel bioactive compounds with translational role in the health sector for the management of certain diseases such as viral infections, respiratory illnesses, heart-related disorders, cancer and diabetes.
Globally especially in research in the field of Biochemistry, Toxicology and Translational medicine, Professor Farombi naturally commands respect and recognition for blazing the trail of research excellence. For instance, in 2005, he was cited and listed among top 10 productive researchers in the University of Ibadan who contributed research articles within a 10 year frame (1995-June 2005) (SESRTCIC, http://sesrtcic.org/statisticstate) – and ten years later, following the February 2015 Webometric Ranking of Nigerian Scientists, he was top-rated (ranked number 1 Nigerian scientist). In the US-based Stanford University World ranking of scientists (2021&2022), he was ranked among Top 2% World Scientists, Top 1% of World Toxicologists and Number 1 (one) Toxicologist in Nigeria. Ever since, he has been consistently ranked and listed among top Nigerian researchers selected for exceptional research performance and output. He is a recipient of several International Fellowships and Grants including the 2014 SOT Global Senior Toxicology Award for his outstanding contribution to the Science of Toxicology being the first Toxicologist from the University of Ibadan to win this international award.
A very effective, productive and innovative researcher, supervisor and mentor rich in “Academic currency”, he has supervised 152 BSc, 250 MSc and 25 PhD students in Biochemistry and Toxicology. He supervised the adjudged best PhD Thesis in the discipline of Basic Medical Sciences within the Nigeria University system during 2009 assessment by NUC. More recently, he supervised the best PhD Thesis in the University of Ibadan in 2018. Professor Farombi has authored and co-authored 291 scientific articles in reputable international journals, 20 chapters in books and edited a book titled “Nutritional Antioxidants in Cancer and Degenerative Diseases”. A resourceful and successful mentor, ten (10) of his former Postgraduate students are now full Professor in various Universities in the country and abroad.
In the course of his academic career, he has been honored with the Fellowship of 6 prestigious National and International Academies: A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) UK, Fellow Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS), Fellow Academy of Toxicological Sciences (FATS) of the USA, Fellow African Academy of Sciences (FAAS), (first Nigerian Biochemist to be honored), Fellow Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FNSBMB), being the first Biochemist from the University of Ibadan to receive the award and recently, he was admitted to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medicine Specialties (FAMedS) of Nigeria as Foundation Fellow.
Professor Farombi is happily married to Dr. (Mrs.) Temitope Farombi, a Consultant Neurologist at the Geriatric Center, University College Hospital, Ibadan, and the founder of Brain Health Initiative of Nigeria and an Online Health Company. They are blessed with three children.