Profiles
Iroka Joseph Udeinya '76
Enugu, Nigeria
As a high school student in his native Nigeria, Iroka Joseph Udeinya '76 longed to attend an American university. Attracted by reports of significant scientific advances in the United States, the budding biologist could only dream that his family could pay for an American education. Luckily, he discovered the Wien International Scholarship Program at Brandeis.
“The Wien program was unequaled with respect to financial aid to foreign students,” said Udeinya, now a professor at the University of Nigeria’s School of Medicine. “And, the best of all possible worlds, it was available at Brandeis — one of the top universities in the U.S.”
Udeinya arrived at Brandeis wide-eyed. “Being at Brandeis in the 1970s was great,” said Udeinya, who graduated in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. “It was a wonderful learning environment, a small world of which I was a proud member. I made friends with people from all continents, and learned a lot from them. The program engendered trust and understanding among individuals from diverse cultures and religions. This program really has made the world a better place.”
After Brandeis, Udeinya enrolled at the College of Medicine at the University of West Virginia, where he earned a doctorate in pharmacology in 1979. He attributes his success there to the “rock solid” education he acquired at Brandeis.
Soon after, he began post-doctorate research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health, in Maryland. Udeinya also served as an associate professor at Howard University’s College of Medicine.
In the late 1990s, the internationally respected scientist returned to Nigeria in pursuit of yet another dream. Udeinya, the father of five children, had been studying the health benefits of an extract from the leaves of the native Nigerian neem tree (azadirachta indica). He posited that the leaves — already being used to successfully treat malaria —might well be synthesized as an effective treatment for HIV/AIDS.
In 2004, after much clinical research and many trials, Udeinya produced a potent anti-HIV/AIDS drug, which he called IRACARP. Now in its third phase of clinical trials, the promising new drug’s efficacy is as good as or better than most of the best multi-drug combination therapies used in advanced countries, without the toxicity or adverse effects.
Udeinya, who has authored or co-authored countless papers on infectious diseases and possible treatments, has received several grants and donations from institutions and generous individuals eager to see this dream come true – for him and the millions of HIV/AIDS patients around the world.
“The Wien scholarship program opened my mind to the possibility that dreams really do come true,” said Udeinya. “It certainly made my dream come true, and instilled in me a life-long obligation to assist others realize their dreams as well.”
“For 50 years, the Wien program has empowered ambassadors for peace and understanding in our world,” said Udeinya. “It has given hope and opportunity to those of the most humble backgrounds, people who have become great statesmen, engineers, scientists, and educators. May the spirit of Larry Wien be a guiding light in the life and work of all Wien Scholars, and may his great star shine ever bright for the Wien family.”
In 2004, after much clinical research and many trials, Udeinya produced a potent anti-HIV/AIDS drug, which he called IRACARP. Now in its third phase of clinical trials, the promising new drug’s efficacy is as good as or better than most of the best multi-drug combination therapies used in advanced countries, without the toxicity or adverse effects.
Udeinya, who has authored or co-authored countless papers on infectious diseases and possible treatments, has received several grants and donations from institutions and generous individuals eager to see this dream come true – for him and the millions of HIV/AIDS patients around the world.
“The Wien scholarship program opened my mind to the possibility that dreams really do come true,” said Udeinya. “It certainly made my dream come true, and instilled in me a life-long obligation to assist others realize their dreams as well.”
“For 50 years, the Wien program has empowered ambassadors for peace and understanding in our world,” said Udeinya. “It has given hope and opportunity to those of the most humble backgrounds, people who have become great statesmen, engineers, scientists, and educators. May the spirit of Larry Wien be a guiding light in the life and work of all Wien Scholars, and may his great star shine ever bright for the Wien family.”
