Darlingtina K. Esiaka, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Science in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, has been awarded a fellowship by the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) to travel to Nigeria to work with the Research Center for Ageing Cognition and Psychological Health at Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Esiaka's research focuses on social determinants of health and aging in Black communities. For this project, she will advance her work using electroencephalogram (EEG) devices to examine risk and early physiological and neurological signs of cognitive impairment. EEGs measure electrical activity in the brain.
Her project aims to address challenges in the early detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment in low- and middle-income countries by leveraging low-cost, mobile, wearable EEG technology as a potential alternative technology for people with limited access to functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain.
"I am honored to have been selected for this fellowship. It's confirmation I'm on the right path with my research," said Esiaka. "I am passionate about seeing how we can leverage the research we are conducting here at UK to help benefit under-resourced communities and find lower cost alternatives that will increase access to preventive care."
Esiaka will also collaborate with Yang Jiang, Ph.D., a professor of behavioral science, and Valentine Ucheagwu, Ph.D., the deputy director of the Research Center for Ageing Cognition and Psychological Health at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, on this project. They will explore how EEG devices can be used effectively for brain activity monitoring, while also fostering mentorship and training opportunities for Nigerian students interested in neurophysiology, aging and dementia research.
"This support also makes it possible for UK students to conduct research with me this summer in Nigeria, and it provides them a chance to practice what they've learned from conducting research in our lab," said Esiaka, who will be accompanied by M.D. candidate Maria F. Clark. "We will work together to train local researchers on how to use EEG devices and collect pilot data for future grant applications."
This initiative also aims to inspire the next generation of Nigerian scholars by providing hands-on training and long-term mentorship opportunities that extend beyond Esiaka's visit.
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University project is one of 43 newly funded projects that pair African diaspora scholars with higher education institutions and collaborators in Africa to work together on curriculum co-development, collaborative research, graduate training and mentoring activities in 2025.
The Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program is designed to strengthen capacity at host institutions and develop long-term, mutually beneficial collaborations between universities in Africa and North America. It is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York and managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in collaboration the Association of African Universities (AAU).
Nearly 750 African Diaspora Fellowships have now been awarded for scholars to travel to Africa since the program's inception in 2013. Fellowships match host universities with African-born scholars and cover the expenses for project visits of between 14 and 90 days.
See a full list of selected projects, hosts and scholars.
