Laboratory Support
We embark on clinical research to evaluate medical treatments, procedures, drugs, and devices on human participants in other to improve healthcare practices, develop new therapies, and enhance medical knowledge. Our research includes various study types such as observational studies, trials, and outcomes research, with the aim to generate evidence-based data for informed medical decisions, benefiting patients and public health.
Immunohistochemistry Laboratory
The Healthy Life for All Foundation supported the establishment of an immunohistochemistry laboratory at the University of Ibadan in January 2005, following the 2004 workshop on breast and cervical cancer management. The laboratory was designed and implemented by Dr. O.F. Ikpatt of the University of Chicago and was sponsored by the Healthy Life for All Foundation and the Ralph and Marion Medical Research Trust. The laboratory addresses the need for determining estrogen and progesterone receptor status as well as HER-2/neu overexpression, which have significant implications for breast carcinoma patients’ prognosis and treatment response.
We are committed to providing continued support for the essential services rendered by the immunohistochemistry laboratory. The research laboratory will be providing vital support for the upcoming clinical trial that will involve the use of an oral chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of Breast cancer in Nigerian women.
Breast cancer is a major health issue in the Western world, especially among American women aged 40-55. Genetic factors contribute to about 5-10% of all cases, but around 25% of cases diagnosed before age 40. Black women in the US have a lower risk of breast cancer than White women, but their survival rate is poorer. African-American women are more likely to have breast cancer at a younger age and with more aggressive characteristics. In West Africa, where most African Americans have their roots, breast cancer is considered a rare and fatal disease among young women. The average age at diagnosis in Nigeria is 43 years, which is 10-15 years younger than in White women, with 74% of cases occurring in pre-menopausal women. Unlike in White women, breast cancer incidence in Africa does not increase with age after menopause. We have recently established collaborations within the University of Ibadan to study the genetic and environmental factors which contribute to breast cancer in the African diaspora.
By actively engaging with communities, we build trust and transparency. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and empowers communities to take charge of their health.
Community partnerships ensure our research and interventions are culturally appropriate and sustainable in the long run. Local knowledge helps us develop solutions that integrate seamlessly into community practices.
At Healthy Life for All (HLF), we believe community involvement is the cornerstone of successful research and impactful interventions. Here’s why:
Communities are the experts in their own health challenges. Their voices and experiences guide our research questions and intervention design, ensuring they address real-world concerns.
By actively engaging with communities, we build trust and transparency. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and empowers communities to take charge of their health.
Community partnerships ensure our research and interventions are culturally appropriate and sustainable in the long run. Local knowledge helps us develop solutions that integrate seamlessly into community practices.
