Dr. Omowumi Titilola Kayode

Dr. Omowumi Titilola Kayode is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Immediate past Head, Department of Biochemistry, Deputy Director Academic Planning Unit at Mountain Top University (MTU), Nigeria, and a distinguished scholar whose career exemplifies dedication to teaching, research, and service. She had her BSc at the University of Ilorin, MSc (University of Ibadan) and a PhD at the University of Ilorin in the year 2016. She began her academic career in 2009 as an Assistant Lecturer at Bells University of Technology, Ota, where she nurtured young scientists and laid the foundation for her teaching excellence. Rising through the ranks, she now serves as Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Mountain Top University, where she continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of researchers.

Her research trajectory is marked by significant contributions to biochemistry, molecular medicine, nutraceuticals, and translational oncology. She has published extensively in Google Scholar (H-Index of 16, Citations: 1,180) and Scopus-indexed (H-Index of 11, Citations: 470) journals, with works spanning nutrition, bioactive compounds from indigenous plants, cancer biology, and molecular genetics. These publications have not only advanced scientific knowledge but also positioned her as a leading voice in leveraging Nigeria’s biodiversity for health and food security. She has presented her findings at numerous national and international conferences, further amplifying her impact on the global scientific stage.

Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Kayode undertook postdoctoral research with the DAAD Fellowship (Germany), where she honed advanced biochemical and molecular biology techniques and built enduring international collaborations. Her career reached a new milestone when she recently won the prestigious Max Planck–Humboldt Research Award, becoming one of the first recipients from Sub-Saharan Africa. With this award, she established the Max Planck–MTU Centre for Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (CBMM), a fully funded world-class research hub in Nigeria. As the Director and Principal Investigator, she leads cutting-edge research in oncology, drug discovery from indigenous plants, and translational science, with a strategic outlook to patent novel bioactive compounds for cancer management. The Centre has already recruited world-class scholars, established advanced laboratories, and initiated collaborations with leading international scientists, positioning Mountain Top University as a rising biomedical research hub in Africa.

Dr. Kayode’s impact extends beyond biomedicine into climate research, where her work on indigenous plants and nutraceuticals contributes to climate-smart innovations and food security strategies for Nigeria. She successfully organized an impactful 2 day DAAD-funded international workshop for African Women in Climate Research and Action (AWCRA), where she had served as the immediate past President. She is a dedicated member of several professional societies, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Prostate Cancer TransAtlantic Consortium (CaPTC) and Society for Experimental Biology of Nigeria (NISEB), where she currently serves as Vice President, championing the growth of experimental biology in Nigeria and beyond.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Kayode is married to a fellow biochemist, Prof. Abolanle A. A. Kayode and together they are blessed with children, embodying the balance of family and career that inspires many in the scientific community.