ABOUT Us

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is one of the most common inherited blood disorders affecting millions worldwide. However, the research and resources needed to drive change in SCD have been scarce for decades. SCD predominately affects those who have ancestry from malaria-endemic regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Certain countries with the highest prevalence include Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, and India. SCD is a genetic disorder that leads to the sickling and rigidity of red blood cells. This often leads to a blockage of blood flow to the tissues and causes several complications including painful vaso-occlusive crises, frequent hospitalizations, stroke, and reduced quality of life. Long-term complications of SCD include end-organ damage, avascular necrosis, and early mortality. Born and raised in Nigeria, Nnamdi Okeke was all too familiar with the consequences of SCD as he witnessed many close friends and family members suffer from this life-long disease.

From an early age, Nnamdi has been passionate about science and has always had a keen interest in patient care. With an ultimate goal to positively impact individuals living with SCD, he started his pharmaceutical career in Nigeria before coming to the United States. He eventually earned his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Oregon State University. Through his extensive experiences working with clinical trials and medical affairs in the pharmaceutical industry, Nnamdi recognized an unmet need in how clinical trials were conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa. He realized that many sponsors and CROs needed more cultural awareness, which is essential to successfully conducting trials in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, they did not fully understand the regulatory and clinical development framework, did not emphasize the importance of clinical trial awareness for patient education, and lacked an understanding of regional logistics and the supply chain network, which often led to delays in study start-up, suboptimal study enrollment, and delays in achieving study milestones. 

 

Nnamdi has made it his mission to play a vital role in SCD by providing guidance on cultural and structural norms for sponsors that will fill the knowledge gaps and speed up clinical trial processes, improve patient education for clinical trials, and transform the landscape for people living with SCD across the globe.