NYMC > Faculty > Faculty Profiles > By Name > Okeoma, Chioma

Chioma M. Okeoma, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Research
Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
Fellow of Lovelace Biomedical, Albuquerque, NM

Prior to joining NYMC, Dr. Okeoma was an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY.

Dr. Okeoma obtained her Ph.D. at Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania from where she moved to the University Iowa as an Assistant Professor.  She has been in the forefront of cutting-edge research for which she has received many awards and recognitions, including a medallion from the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, as well as a recipient of the Andy Kaplan Prize from Cold Spring Harbor Retrovirus Meeting. She is also a recipient of the Iowa Women of Innovation Awards by the Technology Association of Iowa.

Dr. Okeoma is a member of several professional associations, including the American Society for Virology (ASV), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI), American Society for biochemistry and microbiology (ASBMB), American Society for Exosomes and Microvesicles (ASEMV), American Association of Immunologists (AAI), and American Society for Virology (ASV) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.

Dr. Okeoma’s laboratory focuses on understanding how host factors expressed in host cells or present in extracellular structures, such as extracellular vesicles and extracellular condensates, protect the host against infective agents or facilitate disease manifestation. Her laboratory has led in defining the role of BST-2 in breast cancer as reported in multiple publications. Additionally, her laboratory studies the interaction of cellular components and extracellular structures and how they interplay to produce spatiotemporal phenotypes observed in physiological and pathophysiological states.

Education:

• Ph.D. (Massey University, Palmerston North New Zealand)
• M.Sc. (Federal University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria),
• B. Agric Tech (Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria)

Area of Expertise:

• Infectious diseases (virology)
• Breast cancer
• Drug abuse
• Extracellular vesicles

Professional Service:

GRANT REVIEW

NATIONAL

• Standing member, HIV Molecular Virology, Cell Biology and Drug Development (HVCD) NIH study section
• NIDA, Special Emphasis panel
• Division of AIDS, Behavioral, and Population Sciences (DABPS), AIDS & AIDS Related Research (AARR)
• HIV Comorbidities and Clinical Studies Study Section (HCCS),
• ZRG1 MDCN-G (58) R - PAR: Exosomes and SUDs (Teleconference)
• ZDA1 HXO-H (02) R Assessing the Effects of Cannabinoids on HIV-Induced Inflammation (Teleconference)
• Molecular Neuropharmacology and Signaling Study Section (MNPS)

INTERNATIONAL

• Icelandic Research Fund (IRF) 
• The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• Terry Fox Foundation
• The Al Jalila Foundation

SELECT EDITORIAL WORK:

• Scientific Reports Editor   
• Viruses Special Issue Editor: Viruses and Extracellular Vesicles

SELECT MANUSCRIPT REVIEW ACTIVITIES

• Journal of Virology
• Journal of extracellular vesicles
• FEBS Letters
• Scientific Reports
• Cell Death and Diseases
• European Journal of Immunology
• Clinical & Experimental Metastasis
• Disease Models & Mechanisms
• Future Virology
• PLos One
• PLos Pathogens
• PLos Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Virology- Elsevier
• Virology- BMC
• Recent Patents on Biomarkers
• BMC Veterinary Research
• BMC Biology
• Bentham Science Publishers
• Medicines
• Human Reproduction
• International Journal of Virology and AIDS
• Point Journal of Medicine and Medical Research (PJMMR)
• Emerging Microbes & Infections
• Journal of Agriculture and Biodiversity Research (JABR)
• African Journal of Microbiology Research

Memberships and Affiliations:

• American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• American Society for Virology (ASV)
• American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
• American Society for Exosomes and Microvesicles (ASEMV)
• American Society for biochemistry and microbiology (ASBMB)
• American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI)

Teaching Responsibilities:

• Pathogens & Host Defense (small group interactive session)
• Biology and Pathogenesis of Viruses
• Responsible Conduct in Research GRD500 course (Authorship, facilitator)
• Selected Topics in Pharmacology (seminar)
• Cell & Tissue Biology (Signaling via Extracellular Vesicles)
• Biochemical Lab Techniques

Honors:

• Doctoral scholarship, New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
• Most commendable published paper prize for: Isolation and molecular characterization of Neospora caninum in cattle in New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 52, 364-370. PMID: 15768137 Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, Australia
• Postdoctoral trainee (5-T32-CA-009140-29 to UPENN)
• Andy Kaplan Prize: Cold Spring Harbor Retrovirus Meeting
• American Society for Virology (ASV) Invited Keynote speaker
• University of Iowa Nominee for Iowa Women of Innovation Awards, Technology Association of Iowa
• Finalist for Iowa Women of Innovation Awards by Technology Association of Iowa
• National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps Program Award
• University of Iowa Nominee for Iowa Women of Innovation Awards, Technology Association of Iowa
• Recipient of the Iowa Women of Innovation Awards by Technology Association of Iowa
• University of Iowa 2016 inventor Award
• University of Iowa Startup Launched Award

Search PubMed for all publications of Dr. Okeoma