Associate Professor of Hematology
University of Rwanda/University of Calabar, Nigeria
kigali, Kigali
Ifeyinwa Maryann Okafor, Ph.D., is an accomplished Associate Professor of Haematology with a distinguished academic and research career spanning Nigeria and Rwanda. She holds a Ph.D. in Haematology from the University of Calabar, Nigeria, and currently holds a joint academic position at the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the University of Calabar. This unique dual-continent role provides her with deep, on-the-ground expertise in the challenges and opportunities for blood system strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa, directly aligning with the session's focus on resource-limited settings.
Her research portfolio is centrally focused on improving transfusion safety and addressing critical haematological public health challenges. She has made significant contributions through seminal studies on the high prevalence of haemolytic antibodies and transfusion-transmissible infections among African blood donors, work on donor iron status, and the safety of donations from specific donor groups. Her investigations extend into sickle cell disease, nutritional anaemias, and the development of molecular diagnostic and prognostic markers for haematological malignancies, establishing her as a leader in evidence-based laboratory haematology.
Dr. Okafor is a recognized and active member of the international haematology and transfusion community. She is a member of several prestigious societies, including the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) and the British Society for Haematology (BSH), from which she has received multiple travel grants. Her leadership is evidenced by roles such as former Head of Department at the University of Calabar and her involvement in postgraduate program development in Rwanda. As an experienced mentor, researcher, and speaker, she is expertly positioned to lead this critical discussion on innovative strategies for sustainable blood systems
Disclosure information not submitted.