Meet The Member: Adepemi Ogundeji – Medicine, Microbes & Better Biobanking

“Biobanks are essentially repositories of biological knowledge and biodiversity. They preserve biological material that might otherwise be lost and – importantly – preserve it in a way that allows future generations of scientists to study it. For microbiology, this is particularly important, because there are so many of them, and they can have such a big ecological and industrial impact.”

Dr Adepemi Ogundeji is the Curator of the BBSA Yeast Culture Collection at UFS, which preserves thousands of yeast isolates for research, education and biotechnology.

Dr Adepemi Ogundeji is a microbiologist, researcher, lecturer and biobank curator at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She is the Curator of the BBSA Yeast Culture Collection at UFS, which preserves thousands of yeast isolates for research, education and biotechnology.

The collection currently holds more than 4000 yeast isolates from different habitats in South Africa and other locations around the world – the largest such collection in the Southern Hemisphere. As such, it provides resources for research and industry, including strain preservation, identification and related expertise. 

“Microorganisms are incredibly diverse, and we are still discovering their ecological, medical and industrial significance. A well-managed culture collection provides researchers with authenticated, preserved biological material that can be studied repeatedly without having to recollect the original organism.” 

Adepemi’s passion for microbes and medicine was ignited at the University of the Free State, where she obtained a string of degrees, including a BSc Hons in Medical Microbiology, followed by an MSc and a PhD along the same lines, and has worked as a post-doc and a researcher. 

Adepemi’s academic journey has focused on microbiology, microbial diversity, pathogenic yeasts, antimicrobial resistance and the search for innovative approaches to infectious diseases.

“Bloemfontein has a special place in my heart,” she smiles. “It has been such an important part of my professional and academic journey. It’s where I’ve built my career at the University of the Free State, developed as a scientist and educator, and become deeply involved in microbiology and biobanking.”

Dr. Ogundeji’s research focuses on pathogenic yeast infections, particularly Cryptococcus, a serious brain infection affecting people living with HIV/AIDS. Her academic journey has focused on microbiology, microbial diversity, pathogenic yeasts, antimicrobial resistance and the search for innovative approaches to infectious diseases. And it’s taken her all over the world, presenting, sharing and learning as part of the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA) and also the Global Genome Biodiversity Network.

“Biobanking is a national and international endeavour, and we need to see ourselves as part of  a much broader community of researchers and collections. It helps create opportunities for networking, collaboration and sharing expertise in areas such as collection management, preservation, documentation, biodiversity and access to biological resources. There’s a lot of work to be done – and the more, the merrier.”

We caught up with Adepemi to find out more about why her work matters so much to her (and more)…

What’s a typical work day like for you?
One of the aspects of my work that I particularly enjoy is that no two days are exactly the same.  I wear several hats as a microbiologist, biobank curator lecturer and researcher. As the curator of the BBSA Yeast Culture Collection at UFS, I have the responsibility of ensuring that valuable yeast biodiversity is properly preserved, documented and made available for research and industrial applications. A typical working day can involve anything from managing biological collections, teaching and supervising students to working with microbial cultures, analysing research findings, writing manuscripts, attending meetings and collaborating with colleagues. 

What do you enjoy most about your job?
One of the exciting aspects of my research is exploring the relationship between microbial biodiversity and human and environmental health.  My previous research has included investigating Cryptococcus and potential antifungal compounds, while more recent work has explored the occurrence of drug-resistant Candidozyma auris in an unexpected ecological setting – the South African brown locust. I also have a strong interest in antimicrobial resistance and in understanding how microorganisms adapt, survive and potentially cause disease.

What issues/challenges does your biobank face?
One of the major challenges is insufficient personnel. Maintaining a microbial culture required skilled personnel and continuous monitoring. Preservation is not a once-off activity; it is a long-term commitment. Another challenge is ensuring that our collection remains visible and relevant to researchers. A collection can contain extremely valuable biological material, but its scientific value is greatly increased when researchers know what is available and can access it appropriately. 

How can we help?
The BBSA is particularly valuable because it brings together biological collections from across South Africa into a broader national network.  Ultimately, BBSA helps turn individual collections into part of a coordinated national resource. The BBSA can help by advocating for sustained investment in an increase in the workforce, supporting training and capacity development, strengthening communication between collections, and promoting the use of biobank resources by researchers, industry and other stakeholders.

What issues/challenges do you think the BBSA faces? How can we deal with them?
Maintaining national visibility, collaboration and sustainable support are important challenges. Strong communication, partnerships and demonstrating impact can help address these. And that’s how we can create a sustainable, well-connected national network whose collections are easily discoverable and actively contribute to research, innovation and education.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I enjoy teaching and continuously learning as much as I enjoy laboratory research.

What do you do to relax? Or when you’re not working?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, attending and participating in church activities, travelling, and discovering new places. In research as well as in life, there’s always something new to learn – and that’s how I like it.

What are your dreams? What’s on your bucket list?
To contribute to impactful science, mentor young scientists, travel widely and experience different cultures. 

If you could give your teenage self one bit of advice, what would it be?
I would say: Trust the journey, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to take opportunities that challenge you. You will not always know exactly where your choices are taking you. Some opportunities may seem small at the time but can eventually become important parts of your story. Keep developing your skills, stay curious, treat people well and remain open to learning.

Want to know more about the University of the Free State Yeast Culture Collection? Just read this. Alternatively, just watch this brief video, and let Adepemi tell you about UFS YCC in her own words. Oh, and while you’re at it, why not learn more about what biobanks are (and aren’t) all about?