The contributions of Dr. Olufunmilayo I. Olopade toward breast cancer are as noticeable as the red rose in a green garden.
Starting her career, Dr. Olopade worked as a medical officer in Nigeria Navy hospital before leaving for Chicago where she worked at Cook County Hospital and later joined the University of Chicago as an assistant professor in hematology and oncology.
For every ten African women, Dr. Olopade realized that 7 to 8 of them have breast cancer. The proportion of African women with breast cancer compared to women in the Western world is massive. The reason is that there are differences in tumor biology, genomics, and healthcare delivery patterns.
It became an alarm to Dr. Olopade Medical’s passion. In response to her sad discovery, Dr. Olopade organized a team and strategies to identify biomarkers that can predict which patients will progress, either at diagnosis or before recurrence.
The team, through the support of BCRF, has been able to establish a standard clinical trials infrastructure and increased the capabilities of oncologists in Nigeria to perform clinical trials.
Also traceable to Dr. Olopade’s research team accomplishment, Nigeria has her first cancer risk clinic
Thus far, she’s been able to mobilize “unwilling ” African women for sensitization on breast cancer.
For her incredible contribution towards breast cancer, Dr. Olopade has been a recipient of multiple awards from medical and non-medical bodies such as Falk Medical Research Trust, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, and the Avon Foundation.
