Dr. Iyioke holds an MSc. In International Relations from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; an M.A. in Environmental Science Journalism, and a Ph.D. in Bioethics from Michigan State University. His research is oriented towards African Ethics and Bioethics, for which he has presented various lectures and webinars, as well as authoring several publications, including An African Research Ethics Reader: From the ground up, the first volume of the Africana Philosophy series which was published in July this year.
Dr. Iyioke’s deep involvement in African ethic efforts has been recognized by external organizations. He was one of 15 Ethics Group members who presented a draft framework for doing research during medical emergencies in the continent, which was the culmination of a two-year long task to formulate an African-centered Ethics Framework for Health Research During Epidemics. He was also appointed as a non-executive Director of the EthiXPERT Board for Research and Innovation housed at University of South Africa (UNISA). EthiXpert is funded by COHRED, an international Not-for-Profit Company based in Geneva, Switzerland, and aims to build responsible and ethical research capacity in and for Africa, with board members meeting monthly to deliberate and advise on research ethics policies.
Due to his expertise and knowledge, he has participated in various events for the Africa Centers for Disease Control (ACDC). In 2018, he presented his theme “Research ethics during epidemics with a focus on African values and One Health” on the Ethics, research design and collaboration webinar, to an audience that included African CDC’s Volunteer Health Care, African CDC and PANDORA-ID NET, UK. In 2023, he attended the Ethics Working Group, Consultative Workshop, at the University of Cape Town. This was a gathering of African research ethics experts aimed to structure “A Framework for Considering Health Research Ethics in Africa.”
Dr. Iyioke’s commitments include supporting and guiding African university students through their path in ethics and bioethics, doing so through the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program. In spring of 2022 at the University of Cape Town, he conducted a collaborative project titled “Collaborative Research in African Bioethics and the Impact of COVID-19″, as well as mentoring and tutoring graduate students. In summer of 2023 at the University of South Africa, Pretoria, he conducted wide-ranging activities such as research, teaching, and outreach work under the theme of: “Indigenizing and Diversifying Research Ethics in African Knowledge Systems and Practices”. He also gave a Public Lecture titled “Reframing Health Research Ethics in Africa: What would it look like?”, which was made part of UNISA’s 150-year Anniversary month-long celebration.
More about his research can be found on Rethinking clinical trials: Redefining responsibility for research participants (2023) and Clinical trials and the African person: A quest to re-conceptualize responsibility (2018).
Written by Paulina Zuniga Ramos
