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UNILAG Researchers Collaboration With Global Consortium Unravels Novel Parkinson’s Genetics Risk Factor In Africans and African Admixed Populations

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Photo : ▪︎Prof. Njideka Okubadejo, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos.


Akoka, Lagos – Researchers from the University of Lagos are key collaborators in the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) that uncovered a genetic variant that increases the risk of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in Africans and African admixed populations.

The research finding was the result of teamwork by an international team including the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Research (NPDR) network, the International Parkinson’s Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC)-Africa, University College London, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in
the US, and 23andMe.

The study was funded by the Michael J Fix foundation for Parkinson’s research and GP2.

The NPDR network and UNILAG team are led by a Professor of Neurology in the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Professor Njideka Okubadejo who acknowledges the crucial role that the supportive research environment at the
university and the commitment of the national and international partners played in the success of the team.

She said “This GBA1 result is a step toward that future, where the research field is
prioritizing, learning from, and treating all people with Parkinson’s disease.”

Other members of the UNILAG team collaborating with the Global consortium (GP2) include: Dr. Oluwadamilola ‘Lara’ Ojo (Associate Professor and Site Lead Investigator, Faculty of
Clinical Sciences (FCS);
Dr. Osigwe Agabi (FCS);
Prof. Francis Ojini (FCS)
and Dr. Ismail Ishola (Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBMS). 
Others are Dr. Francisca Nwaokorie (Associate Professor, FBMS); Mr. Roosevelt Anyanwu (Central Research Laboratory CMUL), and Dr. Arinola Sanyaolu (FBMS).

The variant on the GBA1 gene was identified by the GP2 researchers as part of efforts to galvanize international/collaborative research into the genetics of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as well as revolutionize treatment for the African and African admixed population.

While more research is needed to define the exact mechanism of the new variant, initial findings also suggest that like prior mutations in GBA1, this variant results in lowered activity of the glucocerebrosidase (GCase) enzyme.

The Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) is a resource programme of the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative, it is funded by the Sergey Brin Family Foundation and implemented by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).

The Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) launched GP2 in 2019 to follow up on previous funding efforts from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) with a view to expanding global genetics study in populations traditionally underrepresented in research.

Till date, the GP2 is partnering with over 140 cohorts from around the world, assembling,
generating and sharing data to uncover novel insights and similarities in Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, on behalf of the University Senate, Management, Staff and Students, congratulates the UNILAG team on the GP2 project for their impact in the latest discovery.

Professor Ogunsola says the UNILAG team’s input and impact on the GP2 further accentuates the university’s fast migration into a Future-Ready institution with imprints in various fields including
Science.

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Aliko Dangote Foundation Donates Ambulance to Mainland Hospital Yaba

The donated ambulance is expected to greatly improve the hospital’s emergency response capabilities, enabling swift mobility for critical cases and enhancing overall efficiency in disease outbreak responses.

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the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has donated a brand-new ambulance to Mainland Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

The donated ambulance is expected to greatly improve the hospital’s emergency response capabilities, enabling swift mobility for critical cases and enhancing overall efficiency in disease outbreak responses.

The hospital’s MD/CEO, Dr. Adejumo Adedeji Olusola, said that the donation has addressed a longstanding challenge, allowing the hospital to perform tasks that were previously impossible.

“We are really grateful, and our sincere gratitude goes to Mr. Aliko Dangote. We lacked an ambulance for about 10 years, but now we have one we can boast of thanks to Mr. Aliko Dangote,” Dr. Olusola said.

The Aliko Dangote Foundation has been at the forefront of major health interventions in Nigeria, including efforts to combat malnutrition, polio, and pandemic outbreaks.

This donation reflects the foundation’s broader mission to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.

Dr. Francis Aminu, Director of Health and Nutrition at ADF, emphasized the foundation’s dedication to improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly in the health sector.

“What we do at ADF isn’t just charity, it’s a duty. We believe that every Nigerian life is valuable, and health is the foundation on which all other aspirations are built; no Nigerian should be left behind due to a lack of access to essential health resources,” he stated.

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Sufferer of Kidney Failure, Sewanu, Needs Your Help

Dialisys is 55k per session at Gbagada hospital but in some places it’s over 130k. So this is how I have been doing it since until later I was told at the hospital to go for kidney transplant but before I go for transplant, I will still be doing my dialisys twice a week.

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Shared by Dr Love , on X (Twitter):

My name is Hosu moses sewanu, a native of Ipokia local government in ogun state, was born and raised in Lagos state .

My dad is late, I still have my mum and am the second out of the family of 3.

It all started late 2023, I woke one morning and I noticed that the left side of my head was seriously pounding so I took paracetamol just like the normal thing thinking it was just an ordinary headache but after taking the paracetamol few minute later the headache started again to the extent that it was difficult for me to turn my neck so I managed it like that for about 3 days but when the aching didn’t stop I had to call my mum to tell her what I was facing so she said to me that I should try and come over to her place, on getting to my mum’s place.

She decided that I have to go to Randle general hospital that I should go and complain there about my health.

Immediately I got to Randle, checking my blood pressure level, it was very high and I was referred to the emergency department for quick response, at the emergency, I was required to do some laboratory tests which I did.

So I was admitted immediately for about 4 days, later the doctor told me to go and redo the same test again at another laboratory center outside the hospital. When the results came out, it was reading that I am having chronic kidney failure.

When I was told about the situation, my entire body was very buttered that I almost run mad.

When my mum came. She was also told the same thing then I was referred to gbagada general hospital for proper treatment and to be seeing a neufrologist that is the specialist doctor for kidney cases.

So I started visiting gbagada hospital for check ups and clinic days. By that time my body have not started noticing it like that nor until late 2024

I started feeling very weak, I don’t sleep at night, I couldn’t eat like that, my entire body was down.

So I tried going back to the hospital at Gbagada, there I was admitted instantly and they started the treatment process, later on, I was told to start dialisys, that I should do five, so I started dialisysing at Gbagada hospital at first It was five. After doing the five, I was told to start another five again .

Making it 10 sessions ater doing the 10th session I was discharged home just to be attending the clinic alone, later I was told at the clinic that I should not stop the dialisys that this time, I have to be doing it twice a week.

Dialisys is 55k per session at Gbagada hospital but in some places it’s over 130k. So this is how I have been doing it since until later I was told at the hospital to go for kidney transplant but before I go for transplant, I will still be doing my dialisys twice a week.

So far now, I have done 23 sessions of dialisys and still counting. As it is now, I don’t work again, I can’t even do anything now, even to move around like before is really difficult because the whole thing have started manifesting I mean my body can’t carry me like before.

I am in very severe pain, the drugs prescribed for me by the doctors are very expensive and they are much all are compulsory for me to buy.

Hmm I pray that God should send me help from above, a miracle is what I am expecting.

This is the little I can say about my state of health now.

0119741433 GT bank account, Hosu Moses sewanu

Or

1229255323 Zenith bank

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JUST IN: Ogun confirms Lassa fever outbreak as NYSC member dies

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A 25-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), has reportedly died of Lassa fever at a secondary health facility in ljebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It wwas learnt that the female corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State, was brought to the health facility last Tuesday and later died same day.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, on Wednesday.

Coker also confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

The statement reads, “Ogun State has confirmed a case of Lassa Fever and as such declared Lassa fever outbreak.

“The index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth Corp member who fell sick while in Ondo State and was brought to on of our secondary health facility in ljebu North LGA on 18th March 2025 and later died same day.

“ Lassa fever is a viral Haemorrhagic disease that presents with High grade fever, Headache, General body weakness, Sore throat, Muscle pain, Cough, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Chest pain and Unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings.

”Coker urged members of the community to report to the hospital if any of the listed symptoms is noticed.

“We implore members of the community to promptly report to the hospital if they notice any of these symptoms.

Any case of febrile illness that has not responded to 48 hours use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should raise an index of suspicion for Lassa fever!

“We implore all Health facilities in Ogun State, public and private, to step up Infection Prevention and Control measures and to encourage compliance by all health facility staff.“

Healthcare worker that suspects Lassa fever in a patient, are advised to call their local government disease surveillance and notification officer (LGA DSNO) whose numbers are placed in our health facilities or call State Disease surveillance and Notification Officer (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881),” she added.

The commissioner, however reiterated the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s dedication to protecting the health of the citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases.

She added that the ministry in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team at ljebu North East is keeping the situation under control with enhanced surveillance and community engagement and mobilization for effective response.

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