Wolfson Centre researcher receives prestigious early career award
26 July 2024
Dr Olakunle Oginni, a clinical researcher at the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health, has been honoured with the prestigious Behaviour Genetics Association (BGA) Early Career Award.
This award, formerly known as the Fuller-Scott Prize, recognises outstanding scientific achievements by early-career members of the association. Named in honour of seminal behaviour geneticists John L. Fuller and John Paul Scott, the award highlights significant contributions to the field of behaviour genetics.
Dr Olakunle Oginni completed a PhD in Behaviour Genetics at the Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre at King's College London in 2021 and has made substantial strides in the field through pioneering research and dedicated efforts to advance behaviour genetics in Nigeria.
Upon returning to Nigeria after completing his PhD, Dr Oginni facilitated several international twin research collaborations. These included partnerships between the Department of Mental Health at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Nigeria and institutions such as Semmelweis University (in Hungary, Kookmin University in South Korea, King's College London, and Cardiff University.
In addition to research, Dr Oginni has actively promoted behaviour genetics among Nigerian psychiatrists through conference presentations and postgraduate teaching. This included contributing to the design of a psychiatric genetics module for the psychiatry postgraduate programme of the National Postgraduate Medical College Nigeria (Faculty of Psychiatry).
"I recognise that none of this work would have been possible without collaborators and mentors who have invested their time and knowledge in their work with me."
Currently, Dr Oginni serves as a Welsh Clinical Academic Track fellow, combining postdoctoral research with higher training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Looking ahead, he plans to conduct a recently funded pilot study to test the feasibility of a family-twin study among young children in Nigeria in a collaboration between Cardiff University and the Obafemi Awolowo University. This upcoming project aims to further enhance our understanding of behaviour genetics within diverse populations.
Earlier this year, Dr Oginni was also part of a panel of experts put together by the Wolfson Centre to participate in the first edition of Cardiff Conversations event with Dr Alex George, discussing the mental health of future generations. The event was hosted by the Neuroscience and Mental Health Innovation Institute (NMHII) and attended by over 300 people in person and online.
Dr Oginni concluded “The recognition from the BGA underscores the impactful work being carried out at the Wolfson Centre and our commitment to advancing the field of behaviour genetics on a global scale. I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues in this important field on a global scale.”
Read more about the Behaviour Genetics Association 2024 annual conference.
