Full name

Ernest Tochukwu Aguinam

Department where you did your PhD

Department of Veterinary Medicine

PhD supervisor

Prof. Jonathan Heeney and Dr Barbara Blacklaws

Title of PhD thesis

Infection- and Vaccine-Induced Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 and Other Human Coronaviruses

Year of Completion

2024

Current place of employment

Position at place of employment

Email address

ernestaguinam@yahoo.com

Where are you at the moment?

I am currently working on some manuscripts for publication based on my PhD studies. I also spend more time with my family, particularly my twin toddlers who are an absolute bundles of joy and whom I saw less of during the busy periods leading up to my thesis submission and viva.

Tell us about your time at the University

My decision to transition from a five-year career in clinical veterinary practice in Nigeria to research was rooted in a profound desire to understand and combat infectious diseases. I recall a particularly challenging case of canine parvoviral enteritis, where I questioned the efficacy of prior vaccination and sought to unravel the complex immunological responses at play. This experience, and others like it, ignited a passion to apply my knowledge to a broader context, encompassing both animal and human health. My MPhil and PhD studies at Cambridge, focusing on the virology and immunology of zoonotic viruses such as Norovirus and SARS-CoV-2 and on vaccine immunogenicity, provided the foundation to realize this aspiration.

But the transition from clinical veterinary practice to the rigorous academic environment of Cambridge, coupled with the need to adapt to a new culture and environment, presented significant challenges. However, through diligent effort, exceptional supervision, and the support of the Cambridge community, I thrived in both degree programs. A notable achievement during my PhD was collaborating with the Royal Papworth Hospital to investigate COVID-19 vaccine responses in vulnerable, immunocompromised patients and subsequently publishing our findings. Beyond academic accomplishments, I cherish the informal discussions with colleagues, often over lunch or in pubs, where many of my current and future research ideas originated. I also hold dear the memories of potlucks with fellow African scholars, weekend getaways with friends, college badminton games, and singing in church choirs.

Tell us about your experiences since leaving the University 

Since completing my PhD, I have continued my collaborative work on vaccine development with my former laboratory and external collaborators. A significant achievement is the recent submission of a manuscript, led by a former colleague, describing a potentially groundbreaking broad-spectrum vaccine against highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza.

My efforts have been primarily directed towards transforming my thesis findings into publishable manuscripts and contributing to joint publications. The job search process, including application submissions and interviews, also required substantial time. Having recently graduated, I look forward to commencing a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. There, I will utilize organ-on-a-chip technology to examine the role of the immune system in vaccine efficacy among other projects.

Alumni wisdom 

If you could offer a piece of advice, a tip or simply some words of encouragement to those who have travelled from their home countries in Africa to undertake their PhD at the University of Cambridge, what would it be?

If you are coming to Cambridge from Africa, remember that you are one of many equally great minds across the world that the university has brought together. Some of the great ideas for your research may not come from reading textbooks but from informal chats with colleagues and friends and attending your local seminars. So, reach out and connect with people even as you study in the traditional ways.

Publish early if you can. Be open to new ideas and suggestions as you follow where your research leads. And to navigate the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies many a PhD journey, do not underestimate the power of community. 

Publications

During my PhD, I have published as first author and contributed to other publications as listed below:

1. Aguinam E.T. et al, 2023. Differential T-cell and Antibody Responses Induced by mRNA Versus Adenoviral-Vectored COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with Immunodeficiencies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100091
2. Nadesalingam A. et al, 2022. Vaccination and Protective Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants in People with Immunodeficiencies

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00297-X

1. (Pre-print) Huang C. Q. et al, 2024. Digitally immune optimised haemagglutinin with nanocage plug-and-display elicits broadly neutralising pan-H5 influenza subtype vaccine responses  https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.14.623359
2. Ugwu C.A. et al, 2024. Immunological Insights into COVID-19 in Southern Nigeria

https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1305586

5.     Carnell G. W. et al, 2023. Glycan masking of a non-neutralising epitope enhances neutralising antibodies targeting the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants

10.3389/fimmu.2023.1118523

1. Carnell G.W. et al, 2021. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Stabilized in the Closed State Induces Potent Neutralizing Responses. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00203-21
2. Ugwu C.A. et al, 2022. Humoral and cellular immune responses to Lassa fever virus in Lassa fever survivors and their exposed contacts in Southern Nigeria

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26045-w

8.     Nadesalingam et al, 2021. Paucity and discordance of neutralising antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in vaccinated immunodeficient patients and health-care workers in the UK

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(21)00157-9