Howard University (Ph.D.)
Howard University
2023
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Faculty
Faculty
Adaku Ofoegbu, Ph.D., Pharm.D.,
Biography
Adaku Ofoegbu, Ph.D., Pharm.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy Sciences at Howard University College of Pharmacy. She earned her Ph.D. from Howard University in 2023 and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the Howard University College of Pharmacy in 2016, after completing a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at the University of California, Berkeley. In her current role, she teaches courses in pharmacy administration and contributes to the academic and research mission of the college through instruction, mentorship and program development.
Ofoegbu’s research focuses on pharmacogenomics and opioid use disorder, with an emphasis on improving treatment outcomes and addressing health disparities in underserved populations. Her work explores the role of pharmacogenomic testing as a clinical decision-support tool, particularly in the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and in the treatment of opioid use disorder among diverse populations. She has contributed to a growing body of peer-reviewed literature in journals including The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and the Journal of the National Medical Association, and her research has been supported by grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
In addition to her research, Ofoegbu has extensive experience in teaching and academic service. She has taught courses in pharmacy administration, regulatory writing and pharmacy care management, and previously served as an adjunct professor and pharmacy technology instructor. She is actively involved in university service and professional engagement, presenting her work at national conferences and contributing to scholarly peer review. Through her teaching, research and leadership, Ofoegbu is committed to advancing pharmacy practice, health equity and the training of future pharmacists and researchers.
Education & Expertise
Education
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Pharmacy
Howard University
2016
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Interdisciplinary Studies
University of California, Berkeley
2008
Academics
Academics
Principles of Pharm Admin 2
Making Medicines
Pharmacy Care Mgmt
Regulatory Writing
Research
Research
Funding
Ofoegbu, A. (Principal), Ettienne, E. (Co-Principal); "2024-2025 Faculty Research Initiative Grant," Sponsored by Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Novartis US Foundation, Private, $25,000.00. (June 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025).
Ofoegbu, A., "AIM-AHEAD and NCATS Training - Cohort 1," Sponsored by NIH, Federal, $10,000.00. (January 22, 2024 - September 12, 2024).
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Howard University Research Week Clinical and Translational Sciences Oral Presentation Award; 2017
AT&T Public Sector Hackathon Best Public Safety App and Cisco Excellence Award; 2016
Howard University College of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Award; 2016
Publications and Presentations
Publications and Presentations
Pharmacogenomics and Morphine
Morphine is an opioid analgesic indicated in the treatment of acute and chronic moderate to severe pain. From a pharmacodynamic standpoint, morphine exerts its effects by agonizing mu-opioid receptors predominantly, resulting in analgesia and sedation. Pharmacokinetically, morphine is primarily metabolized in the liver via glucuronidation by the enzyme uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase family 2 member B7 and encounters the transporter proteins organic cation transporter isoform 1 and P-glycoprotein (adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette subfamily B member 1) as it is being distributed throughout the body. The genes coding for the proteins impacting either the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of morphine may bear genetic variations, also known as polymorphisms, which may alter the function of the proteins in such a manner that an individual may have disparate treatment outcomes. The purpose of this review is to highlight some of the genes coding for proteins that impact morphine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and present some treatment considerations.
Pharmacogenomics and OUD
Pharmacogenomics and OUD: Clinical Decision Support in an African American Cohort
Opioid use disorder (OUD) constitutes a significant public health burden as opioid overdose deaths have continued to rise in the United States. Although treatment modalities are available to manage OUD, some patients experience challenges achieving their OUD management goals. Some of these challenges may be attributable to inherited genetic variations, or polymorphisms, on the genes that code for proteins impacting the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of medications used in OUD management. Clinical pharmacogenomics testing can elucidate these polymorphisms; however, a lack of real-world evidence for the use of pharmacogenomics in OUD management complicates the implementation process. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 113 patients undergoing buprenorphine-based OUD management in Northeast Washington D.C. to determine if clinical pharmacogenomics testing for CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 would impact treatment outcomes.
Opioid Metabolizing Enzyme Allele Frequencies and Drug Use in a Cohort of African American Young Adults
The current opioid epidemic has become a top priority of our national research institutions. Medication assisted therapy (MAT) is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The use of pharmacogenetic testing to guide dosing of medications for OUD has been reported to improve MAT outcomes. The population used to develop pharmacogenetic panels lacked diversity. We determined functional variants in opioid metabolizing enzymes and tested for association with drug use in a cohort of African American young adults. We genotyped four SNPs in CYP2B6, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 in a cohort of 575 African American young adults and tested for association with drug use by logistic and linear regression.
Public choice theory and rhetoric
Public choice theory and rhetoric: advancing pharmacogenomics through health in Africa
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) carry a significant public health burden on the African continent. An individualized yet systematic approach to drug selection and dosing may provide a solution. Pharmacogenomics, the study of how inherited genetic variations affect drug response, may be that solution. However, the successful implementation of pharmacogenomics on the African continent will require a systematic combination of evidence, legislative prescriptions, informed policy and key stakeholders all acting in concert. Public Choice Theory—the notion that individuals are guided by self-interest—combined with good rhetoric undergirds the implementation process. In this article, we examine a theoretical policy development process for the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomic testing.