Originally from Nigeria, trained paediatrician and  clinical trial coordinator, Dr Idoko has worked at MRC Unit The Gambia since June 2010 (following a 1-year stint between Jul 2007 and Jul 2008). During this time Olubukola has been involved in a number of important vaccine trials, including the studies for MenAfriVac, a very important vaccine that protects against the epidemic strains that sweep the countries of the meningitis belt. The vaccine was recently introduced into The Gambia in a mass vaccination campaign, and it is hoped will also soon be part of our national immunisation program. Dr Idoko holds a medical degree from the University of Jos in Nigeria and a Master of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She also possesses post-graduate clinical qualifications in Paediatrics which she received at the Jos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria and is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians in Paediatrics.

More recently, Dr Idoko coordinated the multi-dose vaccine trial for the new preparation of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine  (PCV) 13 Prevenar vaccine. This randomised control trial recruited 500 infants in Fajikunda and compared the immunogenicity between the standard preparation, which is a single dose per vial with the multi-vial preparation of PCV13. The vaccines were found to be equivalent, and the new preparation was licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in April 2016 as a consequence of the trial she led which will make the PCV vaccines more affordable for Africa.

Dr Idoko led the field team with great enthusiasm and is a highly respected leader. She is keen to pursue further academic training in Vaccinology and has just been awarded a 1-year Wellcome Trust Fellowship via Imperial College and a place on the PhD program at the University of Munich.

According to Prof Beate Kampman, Dr Idoko is a prime example of how the hard work, perseverance and the required multi-tasking of a professional African woman can lead to being an inspiration for others at the MRCG and beyond.

Read more about the working life of Dr Idoko on our website on http://www.mrc.gm/working-life-olubukola-bukky-idoko/