The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted humanity’s vulnerability to highly transmissible diseases. Given current data models, a reactive approach to future pandemics or global health threats is not an option—proactive research and innovation are essential.

Driven by curiosity and a commitment to solving pressing challenges, I have pursued research at the intersection of pharmacology and biomedical sciences. As an undergraduate, I investigated alternative pharmaceutical excipients from local materials to reduce costs in West Africa’s pharmaceutical industry. My master’s research focused on a key protein involved in nutrient sensing for metabolism and growth. Now, as a PhD researcher in pharmacology at the University of Cambridge, I study bacterial membrane transporters linked to antimicrobial resistance—a major global health threat demanding urgent solutions.

The Hong Kong Laureate Forum presents a unique opportunity for me to engage with leading scientists across disciplines. I am especially eager to join the Life Science and Medicine discipline and interact with laureates such as Prof. Eva Nogales, whose groundbreaking work in structural biology has deepened our understanding of cellular function and cancer treatment.

Participating in this forum would be invaluable for my growth as a future leader in biomedical research, and I look forward to this exciting opportunity.

University of Cambridge

MsbA is an essential ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that facilitates lipid A transport in Gram-negative bacteria. This function is crucial for maintaining the bacterial outer membrane, making MsbA a promising target for novel antimicrobial strategies. Additionally, MsbA contributes to multidrug resistance, emphasizing the need to understand its regulation and inhibition for antibiotic development.

My research investigates MsbA’s function, inhibition, and regulation using biochemical and microbiological approaches. A key focus is an inhibitor compound developed by the van Veen group (Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge) that targets E. coli MsbA. To extend its potential, I assess MsbA activity in Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both clinically significant pathogens. Using transport, growth, and ATPase assays, I examine how lipid composition, mutations, and other factors influence MsbA function.

Preliminary findings have revealed species-specific differences in MsbA activity and suggest that certain lipids regulate its function. Future work will focus on inhibitor interactions with MsbA and their broader implications for antimicrobial development.