Dr Toyin Togun is a postdoctoral clinician scientist with a strong interest in research implementation focused on the discovery and practical application of novel immunological tools to improve the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis (TB) in children. His professional background is in clinical medicine and he completed a Master of Science degree in Public Health in Developing Countries at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine as a winner of a highly competitive World Bank Postgraduate Scholarship.
In April 2012, Toyin was awarded MRC-funded Clinical Research PhD Training Fellowship in Life and Biomolecular Sciences, with The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. His PhD research was an immuno-epidemiological project in childhood TB that centred on the interface between clinical assessment, diagnostic algorithms, advanced diagnostic biomarkers and the challenges of translating these insights from discovery to practice and policy in the field. Toyin successfully defended his PhD thesis in October 2015, within less than the four years stipulated for completion of the PhD fellowship.

Among the scientific outputs from his PhD research are the discovery of a novel multicytokine biosignature for diagnosis of childhood TB, four first-author publications including two book chapters, and several presentations at major international conferences. Within the course of his PhD training, Toyin also successfully completed a research leadership development programme jointly organised by the MRC Unit The Gambia and Vitae (UK), served on the MRCG Higher Degrees Committee and facilitated the establishment of the MRC Unit The Gambia’s Academic Journal Club for early career scientists.

In a further recognition of the outstanding scientific outputs from his PhD research and his inspirational leadership potentials, Dr. Toyin Togun recently won the prestigious ‘MRCG Director’s Award for Research Leader of Tomorrow’ in December 2015.

According to Professor Beate Kampmann, leader of the Vaccines and Immunity Theme at MRC Unit The Gambia, ‘Toyin is the first PhD student to complete his PhD under my supervision since I joined The Unit in 2010. He has shown what it takes to get ahead in my Theme and has been an inspiration and role model for others. He is extremely hard working’.

Read more about Dr Togun's research work on:

http://www.mrc.gm/no-added-value-of-interferon-gamma-release-to-a-predi…

http://www.mrc.gm/no-added-value-of-interferon-gamma-release-to-a-predi…