Fireside chat with Oliver Ezechi highlights importance of bridging global to local and research to impact

On Thursday, October 17, the Midwest D-CFAR and the WashU Global Health Center co-hosted a compelling fireside chat, “Bridging Global to Local: HIV Research and Community Impact,” featuring Oliver Chukwujekwu Ezechi, MD, PhD, a renowned OBGYN and Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). Juliet Iwelunmor, PhD, WashU professor and D-CFAR co-director led the discussion. The event, part of the Midwest D-CFAR Speaker Series, highlighted the intersection of global HIV research and its real-world impact on communities.

Juliet Iwelunmor and Oliver Ezechi.

Ezechi captivated the audience discussing the groundbreaking work happening in Nigeria, where he has made remarkable progress in women’s and adolescent health, particularly in HIV treatment and prevention. Under his leadership, NIMR’s HIV treatment center has provided care to over 25,000 patients. One of his greatest achievements is leading a program that has achieved zero mother-to-child transmission of HIV for five consecutive years—thanks to innovative public-private partnerships and his unwavering commitment to securing women's ability to make autonomous decisions about their health.

Throughout the chat, Ezechi emphasized the importance of trust when working with communities. He explained that research must be conducted with the community at the center, ensuring their voices and priorities are central to the process. Iwelunmor, a global health leader herself, built on hismessage by drawing connections between global and local contexts. She emphasized how lessons from global health research could be applied to underserved communities in the U.S., reinforcing the idea that centering research on the lived experiences of communities creates lasting impacts, whether in Nigeria or Missouri.

Ezechi’s advocacy for strengthening the capacities of marginalized groups resonated with the audience, particularly his role in securing policies in Nigeria that allow adolescents to access HIV testing without parental consent and expanding women’s autonomy in seeking medical care. His insights on the parallels between global and local challenges in HIV research underscored the importance of translating research findings into meaningful, real-world impacts. He emphasized that research is a tool for enhancing community agency and mobilizing community-driven approaches that foster sustainable health improvements.

Ezechi’s candid responses reflected his deep commitment to supporting communities as active partners in the research process. They inspired the audience to consider how community-driven research can create lasting change in health outcomes.

Written by Jacaranda van Rheenen.