Korede Abdullah in Lagos
A Nigerian American scientist and global innovator in molecular imaging, Dr. Samuel Achilefu has transformed cancer surgery with the invention of cancer-visualization goggles.
Using near-infrared fluorescence, the device allows surgeons to see malignant cells glowing in real time, ensuring more precise removal of tumours and reducing the likelihood of follow-up surgeries.
Achilefu’s goggles, one of his most celebrated inventions, have become a defining contribution to modern medicine, earning him worldwide recognition, over 70 patents, and more than 300 published papers.
Before his breakthrough, cancer surgeons relied heavily on lab results to confirm whether they had successfully removed every trace of cancer, often leading to uncertainty and repeated operations.
The initiative has since grown to include over 80 researchers dedicated to advancing cancer diagnosis and therapy.
His invention has since been hailed as a major leap in oncology, improving patient outcomes worldwide.
Born in 1963 in northern Nigeria, Dr. Achilefu’s early life was shaped by the turbulence of the Nigerian Civil War, which forced his family to relocate to the southeast when he was just five years old.
Despite the challenges of growing up during wartime, he excelled academically and later won a French Government Scholarship to study in France.
He earned his PhD in molecular physical and materials chemistry from the University of Nancy before completing postdoctoral training at Oxford University, specializing in oxygen transport systems.
His journey from a war-torn childhood to a global stage in medical innovation reflects resilience, determination, and brilliance.
Dr. Achilefu began his professional career in 1993 at Mallinckrodt Medical in St. Louis, Missouri, before joining Washington University in 2001, where he founded the Optical Radiology Program.
Beyond his laboratory achievements, he has been a devoted family man, married to Nnenna for over two decades, with two children—Chisara and Kelechi.
Over the years, Dr. Achilefu has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Technical Innovation Award (1995), the St. Louis Innovator Award (2011), and the Britton Chance Biomedical Optics Award (2019).
He has also been elected as a Fellow of the SPIE, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Optical Society of America, and the National Academy of Inventors.
His recognition as a leader in biomedical engineering continues to grow, with his work inspiring a new generation of scientists and healthcare innovators.
Today, Dr. Achilefu stands not only as a symbol of Nigerian excellence abroad but also as a testament to the transformative power of science in saving lives.
