Faculty of Medical Sciences

Bio

Nkemcho Ojeh completed her BSc (Hons) in Genetics in 1996 and MRes in Biological Sciences in 1997 in the UK. She then worked and studied at the Centre for Cutaneous Research, Queen Mary, University of London, obtaining her PhD in 2004. Her interest in skin biology continued and she took on a postdoctoral position at Durham University where she worked until 2008 before moving to Barbados to join the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. As Senior Lecturer, she is involved in teaching, curriculum design and research. She served as the Coordinator for the Phase 1 MBBS programme from 2016 to 2021. In 2023, she was appointed the Head of the Department of Pre-Clinical & Health Sciences. She also currently serves as the Programme Coordinator for the Bachelor of Preclinical Sciences programme.

Nkemcho is Honorary Lecturer at the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research, Queen Mary University of London, and Voluntary Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where she collaborates on a number skin biology and wound healing research projects.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cell / Molecular Biology and Tissue Engineering, Queen Mary, University of London, UK,
• Master of Research (MRes) in Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK,
• BSc (Hons) in Genetics, University of Wales, Swansea, UK,
• Fellow (FHEA) in recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education,
• Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning,
• Certificate in Facilitating Problem (Case) – Based Learning, UK,

Research Areas

• Acute and Chronic Wound Healing
• In vitro Skin Models
• Skin Biology
• Skin Disorders (Keloids and Hypertrophic Scarring)
• Tissue Engineering
• Medical Education
• Factors affecting chronic diabetic wound healing
• Keratinocyte stem cell biology and wound healing
• Investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of keloid and hypertrophic scar formation
• Investigating learning styles and its relationship with educational achievement
• Hypertension in African descent populations: Investigating the regulatory mechanisms of RAAS

Teaching Areas

Nkemcho coordinates and teaches courses in the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics Undergraduate programmes. She is also involved in student academic advising.

Course Coordination and Examiner:

• Cell Biology – Year 1
• Introduction to Molecular Medicine – Year 1
• Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics – Year 1

Co-teaches:

• Introduction to Medical Practice-1 (Case Based Tutor) – Year 1
• The Endocrine and the Skin – Year 2
• The Digestive System – Year 2
• Introduction to Pathophysiology – Year 2

Publications

1. Bharatha A, Ojeh N, Fazle Rabbi AM, Campbell MH, Krishnamurthy K, Layne-Yarde RNA, Kumar A, Springer DCR, Connell KL, Majumder MAA. (2024) Comparing the Performance of ChatGPT-4 and Medical Students on MCQs at Varied Levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2024 May 10;15:393-400. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S457408. PMID: 38751805.

2. Ojeh N, Harewood H, Greaves N, Sobers N, Boyce K, Lashley PM, Adams OP, Paul-Charles J, Majumder MAA. (2023) A Phenomenological Exploration of Experiences Related to Learning Styles Among Undergraduate Medical Students in a Barbadian Medical School. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2023 Oct 5;14:1105-1118. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S428012. PMID: 37818529.

3. Sawaya AP, Vecin NM, Burgess JL, Ojeh N, DiBartolomeo G, Stone RC, Pastar I, Tomic-Canic M (2023) Calreticulin: a multifunctional protein with potential therapeutic applications for chronic wounds. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Aug 24;10:1207538. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1207538. PMID: 37692787.

4. Bharatha A, Krishnamurthy K, Cohall D, Rahman S, Forde CA, Corbin-Harte R, Ojeh N, Kabir R, Parsa AD, Ahbab MF and Majumder MAA (2022) Personal protective equipment (PPE) related to adverse skin reactions among healthcare workers at the main COVID-19 isolation centre in Barbados. Front Public Health. 2022 Oct 11;10:978590. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.978590. PMID: 36304246.

5. Marjanovic J, Ramirez HA, Jozic I, Stone RC, Wikramanayake TC, Head CR, AbdoAbujamra B, Ojeh N, Kirsner RS, Lev-Tov H, Pastar I and Tomic-Canic M (2022) Dichotomous role of miR193b-3p in diabetic foot ulcers maintains inhibition of healing and suppression of tumor formation. Sci Transl Med. 2022 May 11;14(644):eabg8397. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg8397. PMID: 35544594.

6. Wade A, Hambleton I, Hennis A, Howitt C, Jeyaseelan S, Ojeh N, Rose A and Unwin N (2021) Anthropometric cut-offs to identify hyperglycaemia in an Afro-Caribbean population: a cross-sectional population-based study from Barbados. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2021 Aug;9(1):e002246. doi: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002246. PMID: 34400464.

7. Ojeh N, Bharatha A, Gaur U and Forde AL (2020) Keloids: Current and emerging therapies. Scars Burn Heal. 2020 Aug 10;6:2059513120940499. doi: 10.1177/2059513120940499. PMID: 32844039.

Additional Info

Awards

Teaching

• Recipient of fourteen teaching awards in Phase 1 (preclinical) from the Medical Students Association, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Barbados (2020, 2019, 2018, 2016).

 

• Student Guild Teaching Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, The University of the West Indies (2018).

Research

• Principal’s Award for Excellence for “Outstanding Research Accomplishments” (2021/2022).

 

• “Most Outstanding Researcher” in the Faculty of Medical Sciences”, The University of the West Indies, Barbados (2018).

 

• Inter American Network of Academies of Science (IANAS) Fellowship Award, USA, 2012.

 

• Young Investigators Award, BSCB and BSDB Joint Annual Spring meeting, York (2006) and 2nd Bio valley Tissue Engineering Symposium, Germany (1999).

Keywords

Skin Biology, In vitro skin models, Keloids, Medical Education, Wound Healing