Cell Biology

Dr Kenneth Chinkwo

Kenneth Chinkwo is Lecturer in Medical Science and teaches histopathology in the undergraduate and Processes of Pathology and Molecular Pathology in the postgraduate Medical Science Program. Prior to that, he obtained PhD at Monash University, Australia, a Master's Degree in Biochemistry from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa and (DIMLS) (BSc Hons) in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nigeria. Ken worked in several pathology laboratories and clinics in Bamenda, Cameroon. He has published in high-impact journals and presented at national and international conferences. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and Histotechnology Society of New South Wales. Ken’s current research involves testing different cancer cell lines with cereals (rice variety, sorghum, oats, lupins and chickpea) to better understand their anti-cancer activity and bioactive role in vivo.

Ken teaches medical science programs, including undergraduate and postgraduate subjects. His area of expertise and experience is in Anatomical Pathology. His passion for teaching is through evidence-based pedagogical approaches in a virtual reality platform. As an example, Ken’s strategy uses analogies to explain complex concepts. He creates an environment to easily communicate the background of diseases with peers in the workplace and laypeople. His interest is in advanced tissue recognition with the identification of tissues malignant lesions.

Ken’s research interest is testing different cancer cell lines with cereals (rice variety, sorghum, oats, lupins and chickpea) to study the anti-cancer activity. His research involves cell death by apoptosis, reverse tumour growth, mechanistic pathways and metastasis that could benefit health and prevent cancer.

Following his previous findings, Ken and colleagues are developing a tumour-suppressive activity of grain extracts in a sophisticated in vivo tumour-induced chicken egg model. This model has been used in precision medicine, as it facilitates the production of tumours in ovo. It enables the assessment of various anti-cancer therapeutic candidates.

Ken has supervised Honours Master's and PhD students and published high-impact scientific journals. He has been part of internal funding worth over $130,000 and was listed as ARC ITTC Partner/Chief investigator grant worth over $2 million. He has received two faculty awards, a Top Level B research award and the Early Career Research award in the Faculty of Science and Health at CSU.